Wigwam Sox host Junior State Division 1 regional playoff

3rd baseman & pitcher Spencer Savage '11.

Milwaukie, Ore. - The Wigwam Sox Division 1 Junior State Baseball Association team for La Salle Catholic College Preparatory hosted a best-of-three game series from July 24-25 against Willamette High School. Wigwam won the East Metro league championship with a 10-2 league record (13-12 overall) and was the top seed from District 6. Willamette was the third seed from District 9.

Willamette won the first game of the series 9-6. Wigwam bounced back in game two with 13 runs in the first two innings to win 15-5 in five innings. The series wrapped-up on July 25th with Willamette winning 11-6. Willamette will move on to the state tournament in Eugene.

The Division 1 Wigwam Sox faced a competitive non-league schedule comprised of Junior State and OIBA teams. Wigwam recorded two wins over Sandy. The second contest between the Sox and Sandy included two squeeze bunts in the bottom of the 7th inning; the first tied the game and the second recorded the win. Wigwam fell behind Summit High School of Bend 14-5 in the opening game of a 4th of July Tournament at Thurston High School of Springfield, however the Sox answered in a big way in the 4th inning and scored 12 runs and took the lead 17-14. Wigwam won 18-17 after 6 innings, due to the 2 ½ hour time limit.

“The effort and concentration demonstrated by the boys that inning and throughout the rest of the game versus Summit really personifies the character of this team. Collectively, we are capable of playing remarkable baseball when we all choose to work hard and maintain the proper mindset throughout the entire game. We are a late-inning team, thriving off the pressure and need to score runs late in games when we trail our opponent,” said Chris George, head coach of the Wigwam Sox.

On July 14th against Horizon Christian, the Sox trailed Horizon Christian in the first game of a doubleheader. The Sox needed to win one game of the doubleheader to guarantee a state playoff berth and two wins to capture the league championship. Wigwam came from behind to win game one 6-5 in 8 innings. In game two they fell behind 6-2, but scored 10 runs in one inning to take the lead and the league title.

“We would obviously enjoy getting ahead early in games, build leads with solid play and make other teams chase us; however, this is not always the case during the summer. It is difficult to gain the type of momentum necessary to play this way with all the various activities going on in the summer frequently taking kids away from the team. Nonetheless, we’ve had a core group of kids at every game leading us to the league championship. The tough games out of league prepared us for the ones that mattered in league and the kids responded,” said George.

This is La Salle’s first trip to the postseason as the Wigwam Sox. In 2007, La Salle’s American Legion “A” team advanced to the state tournament, where they went 1-2 with a win over North Coos and losses to Advanced Metal (Gresham High School) and North Medford.

The Wigwam Sox’s Junior State Baseball Association Division 2 squad, comprised of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders finished the 2010 campaign with a 5-10 overall record.

Founded in 1966 and sponsored by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, La Salle is a co-educational Catholic high school community, emphasizing rigorous college-preparatory curriculum and dedicated to a safe and loving environment. Students are challenged to fulfill their spiritual, academic and social potential in order to meet the demands of an ever-changing society. La Salle is especially committed to providing increased opportunities for economically marginalized youth.