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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 3, 2004 Rob Folsom, left, and his Medford Mustangs teammates practice Monday in preparation for their state-tournament opener Wednesday in Grants Pass. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven A return engagement A largely new roster of players has Medford in the state tournament By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune The Medford Mustangs know all too well the unpredictable nature of baseball. Fielding one of their best teams in recent history last season, the Mustangs failed to advance to the state tournament only one year removed from a trip to the American Legion World Series. Thirteen newcomers have helped fill this summer’s roster, yet the Mustangs find themselves one step further along as they prepare for Wednesday’s American Legion AAA state tournament at Grants Pass All-Sports Park. "I’m just really proud of the kids," says Mustangs manager Sandee Kensinger. "It’s nice to be in the (state) tournament again." Medford (30-13) opens the eight-team, double-elimination tourney against McMinnville Colvin Auto at noon Wednesday in the second of four games at the park. Advertisement In Wednesday’s other action, Redmond AAA will face off against Corvallis Richey’s Market at 8:30 a.m., Northwest Star White Sox will play Salem Withnell Dodgers at 4 p.m. and Southridge Dr. Barneys will take on the host Grants Pass Nuggets at 8 p.m. Medford, the Area 4 runner-up, earned its spot in the state tournament by sweeping a best-of-three series against the Mid-Valley Rockets with 11-7 and 10-5 wins last Thursday and Friday, respectively. The Area 3 runner-up Rockets dispatched the Mustangs from the state playoffs last summer and this time faced a Medford team that had lost four of its previous five games. "We kinda turned it around a tad, didn’t we?" muses Kensinger. "I’m happy, the kids are happy. It was a good bus ride home (from Albany late Friday night)." Helping spark the Mustangs’ surge has been its three holdovers: Rob Folsom, Chad Hegdahl and Corey O’Neill. Folsom, the only five-year player in Mustang history, belted two home runs and drove in five runs in Friday’s clinching victory and had four hits in Game 1 of the series. Hegdahl twice hit two-run doubles and finished with five RBIs to pace the Mustangs last Thursday, then pitched a complete-game victory one night later. The Ashland High graduate chipped in with two putouts and three assists from his role on the mound and had two hits and two RBIs in Game 2. In Game 1, O’Neill reached base three times, scored twice as Medford’s leadoff hitter and added a couple defensive gems in center field. He then had three hits in Game 2. Key to Medford’s success has been its ability to capitalize with runners in scoring position after struggling in that area toward the end of the regular season. "Those were the things that we were not getting," says Kensinger, "and it all boils down to that one inning (last Thursday) when we got those two-run hits by Hegdahl and (Abe) Eubank. That just kinda jump-started us." Posing an immediate threat to Medford’s ability to claim its ninth state title will be a McMinnville Colvin Auto squad that’s making its first trip to state but features standout right-handed pitcher/shortstop Daniel Turpen, a deep pitching staff and a host of capable hitters. Turpen struck out 10 and allowed just four hits in a shutout victory over Canby last Tuesday, then closed the door Friday on Southridge by pitching a scoreless seventh inning to earn a save in McMinnville’s 6-3, state-clinching triumph. Turpen also went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double against Canby. McMinnville (35-6, 17-2 Area 6) entered the playoffs batting .366 as a team, led by Travis Carver’s .506 average. Todd Peterson was second at .457, with Ryan Fricke (.424) and Eric Henderson (.375) also adding to a lineup that can put runs on the board in a hurry. Left-hander Joe Paterson and Evan Roemmick have also provided a big boost to McMinnville with their steady production on the mound and at the plate. "We’ve never crossed paths in high school or anything, so you just have to go by what you hear," Kensinger says of McMinnville. "At this point, though, the kids just need to go have some fun and enjoy the experience and play hard. That’s what it’s all about." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities