In the second game of the weekend pitting conference rivals for the state title, after the Willamina Valley Catholic showdown, the second ranked Roseburg Indians (24-4), champions of the Southwest Conference, face the fifth ranked Grants Pass Lady Cavers (26-4), the SWC runnerups.

Roseburg administered three of the four losses Grants Pass experienced, 2-0 in Grants Pass in 10 innings, and then 2-1 twice in a doubleheader in Roseburg, the first of which was another 10 inning game. Grants Pass’ only other loss was to McMinnvile. Those 6 runs Roseburg got against the Lady Cavers amount to almost a third the 19 total allowed by Grants Pass. That’s the lowest total runs allowed by any softball or baseball team in the state this season. And that’s against the #2 Strength of Schedule in 6A.

Whose’ played the #1 toughest schedule? Roseburg! It might be wise to check game tape of that McMinnville team, because they also have two of the wins over the Indians, who also lost in March to Putnam and Forest Grove. But since March 25, the Indians, who have the second lowest runs allowed, also less than one per game, have only allowed more than a single run in a game twice. First team to score may win; if either scores twice, the odds are very good they will have claimed the championship in the process.

(Updated with photos.)

The Lady Cavers, being a lower seed, have already played 4 playoff games, two on the road, but they get the home designation today, while the Indians are out of Roseburg for the first time in the post season, having hosted all three of their wins, and are the first ones up to bat.

Whitney Harris starts the game off for the Indians with a walk. Nikki Bassett's bunt advances Harris, but Morgan Barnes gets out of it with a strike out, and a short fly to left that Bri Amaranthus goes to her knees to make the catch on.

Roseburg's senior pitcher Mikayla Endicott, who is header to the UofO, gets Tara Glover to strikeout, but Cami Bennett beats out a bouncer to third for the first hit of the game. Bennett steals second on a change up pitch, and Karleigh Prestianni walks. Chelsea Chamberlain strikes out, and after 2 balls to Krystin Jantzer, Roseburg Coach Tony Campos comes out to chat. Jantzer then grounds out 4-3. 2 left for GP.

Tori Walker and Kendra George strike out, and Cadee Kinnee lifts a soft fly to second, as Barnes has little trouble in the second inning.

Barnes is up first, and strikes out, followed by a Lindy Sippola ground out. Amaranthus also strikes out, and its 0-0 after 2 innings.

Jazmine Crowe strikes out, and Breanne Thomas grounds out to third. Harris strikes out too, and both teams have 4Ks.

Emily Woolf singles into right center, and Jamie Gregory comes on as a courtesy runner, and gets gunned down at second stealing. Glover strikes out, and Bennett bounces out. End of 3.

Roseburg’s Jazmine Crowe (5) stretches and gets the out on Grants Pass’s Cami Bennett (2).

Bassett goes down swinging, but Conn walks. Alyssa DesBeins' sacrifice bunt advances Conn to second, but she's stuck there when Walker strikes out.

Prestianni walks to pressure Endicott immediately, but a popup, and an Endicott throw from the seat of her pants gets 2 outs, and Barnes swings and misses 3 times to end the fourth inning threat.

Barnes breezes thru three Indians in the fifth, and now has 9 Ks.

Endicott does the same. GP will be at the top of the order in the sixth inning.

Roseburg is at the bottom. Thomas almost drops one into left, but the ump on the 3rd. base line says foul, by an inch. And then she strikes out. Harris walks, and the GP infield huddles.

Harris is gunned down at second stealing, and Bassett strikes out. Time for the Lady Cavers to try to take control.

Roseburg’s Whitney Harris is put out trying to steal second.

Glover watches strike three right down the middle. Bennett's bunt is off Endicott's glove, for a hit. But two infield pop ups end the sixth, with it still 0-0.

Roseburg’s Mikayla Endicott catches a popup for an out, with catcher Tori Walker and Jazmine Crowe covering.

Conn is gone on 3 pitches, DesBeins walks on 4. Walker's bunt is up in the air to a charging Prestianni for out #2. George bonks one to second, and the Indians are gone in the seventh.

Endicott issues Jantzer a walk on 4 pitches, and goes to second on a passed ball. Coach Campos comes out again. Barnes walks on a pitch right down the middle. Sippola gets the sacrifice bunt down. Endicott strikes out Amaranthus. Woolf flys to second, and on we go to the eighth inning again.

Grants Pass’s Bri Amaranthus (3) strikes out with Krystin Jantzer on third base.

Roseburg is at the bottom of the order; GP will be at the top.

Kinnee gets a double down the left field line for the first Indian hit of the game. Crowe's bunt goes straight up for an out. Shaunna Collins runs for Kinnee, and Thomas strikes out swinging, Barnes' 13th. of the game. Harris walks, with the benefit of the mid-plate ball. Collins is almost picked off second, but the throw is to the right side. Bassett bangs one to short, Jantzer's throw is off line, and Collins beats the throw at the plate for the go ahead run!

Roseburg’s Shaunna Collins scores the first run of the game in the eighth inning before Grants Pass catcher Emily Woolf can apply the tag, as Crysta Conn (2) look on.

Basset moves up, Conn bunts maybe fair, but its called foul. And then she strikes out.

GP sends up the top of the line up, down 1-0 in the eighth.

Glover's foul is almost caught over the dugout by DesBeins! And she walks! Bennett bunts Glover to second. Prestianni doubles to center, but George guns down Glover at the plate! The ball comes loose, but Glover never reaches the plate, and Walker regains control of the ball for the tag out.

Grants Pass’s Tara Glover is out at the plate after colliding with Roseburg catcher Tori Walker.

Chamberlain works the count full, and beats out a bouncer to second that Bassett has to knock down, pick up, and throw, advancing Prestianni to third with two out.

Grants Pass’s Chelsea Chamberlain (13) beats the throw to Roseburg’s Jazmine Crowe (5) with 2 out.

Jantzer drives in Prestianni the tieing run with a single to right! Barnes strikes out, and we go to the ninth, tied 1-1!

Grants Pass Krystin Jantzer (15) singles, scoring Karleigh Prestanni from third to tie the game 1-1.

Middle of the Indian order, DesBeins watches strike 3, Walker's bunt is out 2, and George's hit off Barnes is scooped at short, and its a 1-6 3 out.

GP at the bottom of the order. Sippola walks, and Jamie Gregory hits for Amaranthus, and bunts Sippola to second. Woolf pops the first pitch to Crowe at first, and here comes the top of the order! Glover works the count full, but swings and misses!

To the tenth, and the international tie breaker goes into effect. George goes to second, and the bottom of the Indian order is up. Kinne's bunt is scooped by Prestanni! Sammy Fummerton bats for Crowe, and strikes out. Thomas fouls down both lines, then pops one left, and Prestanni scoops another!

Grants Pass third baseman Karleigh Prestanni scoops a pop bunt in front of the plate as catcher Emily Woolf watches.

GP puts Glover on second, and brings Bennett up. Bennett's bunt goes foul, and then she strikes out. Prestanni pops out to second in short right. Chamberlain singles to right, and Glover gets around the tag to score! GP wins 2-1 in 10 innings!

Grants Pass’s Chelsea Chamberlain delivers the game winning hit.

Chamberlain, the only senior on the team, described the winning hit, saying, "I was waiting for that pitch. It was a change up, and I knew I had to hit it. This feels Great! I've been wanting this since I was little."

Coach Tom Blanchard was just as happy for his lone senior, who will attend Pacific University in Forrest Grove in the fall, and plans to play both volleyball and soft ball. "What a great way for her to end her career, to hit a championship winning single!"

Grants Pass Coach Tom Blanchard with an emotional Chelsea Chamberlain.

Blanchard and Campos both agreed the game was just what they expected, the third 10 inning game between the rivals this year. Campos said "It was just a great game. Both teams played well, both pitchers threw well, we got a run on only one hit! The spectators definately got their money's worth today!" Blanchard said "Oh, my goodness! That was just a wonderful game! We have never been in a tighter rivalry. They had swept us this year, but in all the games, either team could win. We expected this. I'm just glad to get this last one!"

Morgan Barnes, named player of the game, struck out 16 Indians, while Endicott was right there with 12 strikeouts of her own against the Lady Cavers.

Grants Pass sophomore pitcher Morgan Barnes struck out 16 Indians.

But the Lady Cavers owe the win as much to third baseman Karli Prestanni as anyone. Without several web gems, especially including the ones in the tenth inning, there would have been no blue and white celebration. Coach Blanchard commented "I hope everyone realizes she should be the first team all state third baseman. She is as clutch as they come, absolutely."

Prestanni took a break from autographing softballs for fans to explain "It's kinda hard to not get pumped up for the state championship, and then the adrenalin just takes you to where you need to be." While the closing catches were exciting to watch, Prestanni explained "We know their hitters very well. We know what they do well, and what they don't do so well, and we know where to be when certain hitters are up."

Glover's heroics were also essential, and she described the winning run, saying "We were playing for one base at a time, and I knew Chelsea would come through. We all look to each other, but up to her (the senior). When I saw her hit, I knew I had to score, had to get around the catcher."

And if the Lady Cavers can find a replacement for Chamberlain, with everyone else returning, there's a good chance for a repeat trip to the title game for the Grants Pass group.

The Grants Pass Lady Cavers celebrate the state championship with their fans.

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