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2011 Season Review
Churchill finished in the middle of the pack of the Midwestern league. But they nearly made the final bracket of 16 teams in the state playoffs behind the strong pitching of junior Jake Lessel. The Lancers overcame a 2-8 start on the season, as the team, which featured only three seniors, constantly improved throughtout the season.
Juniors Jake Lessel and Jacob DeZarn earned first team all league honors, with Lessel being one of the outstanding pitchers in the league. Two seniors made all league; power hitter Bryson Jones was selected to the second team and Dylan Pomeroy joined the honorable mention group.
It will difficult to replace the performances of Jones and senior Miquel Martinez, but Churchill returns five juniors and a sopmomore who had starting roles or played significantly. Opponents will have a severe case of deja vu next year when Jake Lessel takes the mound with the returning infield of Jordan Thompson (1B), Skyler Perales (2B), DeZarn (SS), Devin Murray (3B), Chase Kearney (C). These players evolved into a typical excellent Lancer infield and should be a major reason that Churcill moves up in the league standings next year.
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| Wednesday May 18 - State Play in Game Round 2 |
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Corvallis 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 - 4 7 0
Churchill 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 3 5 1
Miller and #4
Lessel, Smith(7) and Kearney
WP Miller
LP Lessel
2B Rodman, Wallis
RBI DeZarn, Doerksen, Pomeroy
Pitching Stats
IP H R ER K BB
Miller 7 5 3 3 7 7
Lessel 6.3 7 4 2 8 1
Smith .7 0 0 0 0 1 |
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Churchill and Corvallis played an excellent game on Wednesday afternoon at the home of the Lancers and the Spartans prevailed in a nail-biter 4-3.
The Lancers struck 1st in the bottom of the 1st without the benefit of a hit. Dylan Pomeroy lead off with a walk, and was sacrificed to 2nd and took 3rd on a wild pitch. Jake DeZarn picked up the RBI with a ground ball out to the short stop and the Lancers lead 1-0 after one. For a long time it looked like that would be enough to win the game as Jake Lessel allowed only 3 hits through the 1st 5 innings, with no walks and 7 K's.
The Spartans starting pitcher, Garret Miller was matching those zeros and we moved to the top of the 6th with the score still 1-0. In the 6th the Spartans tied it up when cleanup batter Nate Rodman got his 3rd hit of the game, a two out 2 strike 2B that scored the lead off batter from 2nd. In the bottom of the 6th the Lancers took the lead back without getting a hit. Devin Murray lead off with a 10 pitch walk. Miller retired the next two batters, but walked DeZarn on 4 pitches. On the 1st pitch to Subway Jones he bounced the curve ball and both runners moved up. At that point they intentionally walked Jones bringing pinch hitter Brandon Doerksen to the plate. Doerksen worked the count full and drew ball four to force in the go ahead run. Miller found the strike zone and K'd the next batter to get out of the inning trailing 2-1.
Lessel struck out the 1st batter to lead off the 7th and the Lancers were two outs away from a spot in the round of 16. The next batter coaxed a walk from Lessel, his 1st of the game. The next batter hit a ground ball to 3rd that was fumbled and then thrown away, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. The #9 hitter then lines a single to left putting the Spartans on top 3-2. The lead off batter gets another base hit and that is the end for Lessel. Colin Smith relieves Lessel, and he walks his 1st batter to load the bases. He gets a deep fly to center for the 2nd out that scores another run and then gets the 3rd out on another fly to center.
The Lancers come to the plate trailing 4-2. Miller gets a pop to short to start the inning and then the Lancer bats come to life. Perales singles to center and Murray follows with a single to right center putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Pomeroy rips a shot to left that scores Perales, but Murray is cut down trying to go from 1st to 3rd for the 2nd out. Pomeroy advances to 2nd on the throw. Chase Kearney works a walk from Miller, but he escapes the jam when DeZarn hits a towering popup that drifts back into play and the catcher makes the grab right next to the screen. Final score 4-3 Spartans.
Lessel was the tough luck loser for Churchill throwing 6.3 excellent innings and allowing only 2 earned with 8 K's. Miller went the distance for Corvallis allowing 5 hits, 3 runs with 7 K's and 7 BB's. Cleanup batter Nate Rodman went 3 for 4 with a 2B and one RBI. |
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Coach Erik Hoberg
2011 9th year
PRE - LEAGUE
Churchill graduated a large group of seniors last year. There were just three underclassmen on the regular season roster. The new Lancers will be starting their varsity career against 4A Elmira, followed by a non-league game with 6A South Eugene and then 4A Cottage Grove.
The pre-league schedule is capped off by a trip to Arizona. The Axemen may be hoping to meet some Oregon teams in the sunshine, as the OSAA'a RPI system doesn't have a way to give points for out of state opponents..
LEAGUE
The Lancer's league schedule will give the new Lancers a bit of break. Churchill will start off with two 6A teams, Sheldon and South Eugene, before diving into 5A opponents.
While all games count when determining seeding, whether against 5A or 6A MWL teams, it's likely that a 5A team sweeping its 5A opponents will get the number 1 5A seed. Starting league with two games against 6A teams, gives the Lancers a couple of more games to get ready for their key games.
RETURNING PLAYERS
Churchill had two sophomores, Chase Kearney and Jacob DeZarn, and one junior, Dylan Pomeroy, on their roster last year.
| # |
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Player |
Yr |
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Pos |
Ht |
Wt |
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| 1 |
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Andy Arruda |
10 |
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IF |
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| 2 |
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Kyler Wallis |
11 |
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OF,C |
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| 3 |
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Jordan Thompson |
10 |
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P, IF |
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| 4 |
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Devin Murray |
11 |
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P, IF |
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| 5 |
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Chase Kearney |
11 |
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C |
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| 6 |
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Jacob DeZarn |
11 |
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IF |
6-0 |
170 |
| 7 |
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Bryson Jones |
12 |
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P,OF |
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| 8 |
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Christene Stolarczyk |
11 |
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OF,C |
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| 9 |
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Dylan Pomeroy |
12 |
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OF,C |
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| 10 |
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Skyler Perales |
11 |
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IF |
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| 11 |
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Connor Holmgren |
12 |
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IF |
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| 12 |
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Jake Lessel |
11 |
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P,!B |
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| 15 |
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Brandon Koerksen |
11 |
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P,OF |
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| 18 |
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Colin Smith |
11 |
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P |
6-3 |
210 |
| 19 |
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Miguel Martinez |
12 |
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P,OF |
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