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Pirates capture sixth win in row TALENT -- Lakeview's Michelle Johnson allowed just two hits and struck out eight Tuesday at Hagler-James Park. But the junior pitcher also walked three, hit three batters and uncorked a pair of wild pitches and the Phoenix Pirates took full advantage, claiming a 3-0 Skyline Conference softball victory. The victory was a season-high sixth straight for the Pirates, who climbed into a second-place tie with Rogue River at 12-6 and greatly enhanced their state playoff prospects. "I've told the kids that every game is a state playoff now," said Phoenix coach Rich Ficek, whose team has a doubleheader with Henley and a single game against North Valley left on its schedule. "We were just hoping we could get that third spot, and I really feel that this team has an excellent chance." The Pirates, 17-6 overall, won their first five games before going through a 6-6 stretch. "We hadn't had breaks for a while and now we're getting some," Ficek said. Although the Pirates got outhit 6-2, they didn't waste their scoring opportunities as Johnson twice walked leadoff hitter Jennifer Dunlap and hit her once. In the first inning, Dunlap walked, Jeanetta Hudnall was hit by a pitch and Michelle McEvoy loaded the bases by dragging a bunt down the first-base line for a single. Johnson then unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Dunlap to score the game's first run. Phoenix tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. Sutton Jackson drilled a one-out double to right-center field. Then Megan Capp walked and Chelsie Clark was hit by a pitch to load the bases. One out later, Dunlap was hit again, forcing Jackson across the plate. Capp then scored on a wild pitch. Lakeview ...............000 000 0 -- 0 6 1 Phoenix ................100 200 x -- 3 2 2 M. Johnson and Gillogley; Ross and Nikodym. W -- Ross (17-5). L -- M. Johnson. 2B -- P: Jackson. NORTH VALLEY 3, ROGUE RIVER 0 -- At Merlin, Skyline cellar dweller North Valley shocked second-place Rogue River behind pitcher Rachel Wardlaw's four-hitter. The Knights (6-17, 4-14 Sky) had two outs with nobody on in the third inning when they strung together four straight hits and tallied two runs. Michelle Beck, Wardlaw and Charlotte Beck all singled to load the bases, then Tara Ironside provided a two-run single. North Valley added one more run when Hannah Plant reached base on an error in the fourth and Augusta Richards tripled. Rogue River ............000 000 0 -- 0 4 2 North Valley ...........002 100 x -- 3 6 1 Artoff, Winfrey (5) and Bailey; Wardlaw and M. Beck. W -- Wardlaw (6-10). L -- Artoff. 3B -- NV: Richards. HENLEY 10, MAZAMA 7 -- At Klamath Falls, first-place Henley overcame Mazama's six-run third inning to post its 16th Skyline win in 18 starts. Tara Hoaglum tripled and drove in four runs for the Hornets. Mazama ..........006 001 0 -- 7 8 2 Henley ............300 034 x -- 10 10 4 Powell and Mishler; Birt and Mills. W -- Birt. L -- Powell. 2B -- M: Eubanks. 3B -- H: Hoaglum. Non-conference ST. MARY'S 3, RIDDLE 2 -- Lani Brophy contributed in all aspects of the game during the Crusaders' (18-3, 6-2 Dist. 6) home victory. Brophy improved to 11-1 on the mound for the season with a seven-strikeout, one-walk complete game. The Crusader junior excelled in fielding her position, providing six assists and two putouts. She also went 3-for-3, scored two runs and stole five bases. Brophy tallied the eventual winning run when she opened the sixth inning with a single, stole second and third, then scored on an error. Riddle.. ............000 101 0 -- 2 4 2 St. Mary's ........000 201 x -- 3 4 1 Swett and Halstead; Brophy and Jackson. W -- Brophy (11-1). L -- Swett. 2B -- R: Gibbons, Halstead. CASCADE CHRISTIAN 3, GLENDALE 1 -- At Glendale, sophomore Laural Kelley pitched a no-hitter as Cascade Christian improved to 15-9. Kelley picked up her 10th win in 11 outings with a five-strikeout, four-walk effort. The Challengers put together the winning rally with two outs in the fourth inning when Crystal Dudley and Tera Dunbar produced back-to-back singles and Breana Garvin smacked an RBI double. Garvin and Becky Gettman both went 2-for-4, with one run and one RBI for Cascade. Cascade Christian ................001 100 1 -- 3 6 0 Glendale ..............................100 000 0 -- 1 0 4 Kelley and B. Gettman; Ford, Peaveyhouse (3) and Miller. W -- Kelley (10-1). L -- Peaveyhouse. 2B -- CC: Garvin, Gettman. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA