CLACKAMAS -- Oregon City’s softball team is playing so poised and confident so far this season, it’s even starting to rub off on longtime coach Dave Adelhart.
“I have a tendency to get tense, and these girls have taught me how to relax,” Adelhart said.
Have the Pioneers noticed the difference?
“I think he’s tense until we put runs on the board, and then he’ll relax just a little bit,” junior pitcher Morgan Hornback said.
Of course it helps that Oregon City has a dominant pitcher and hitter like the Oregon-bound Hornback, who once again put the Pioneers’ dugout at ease Wednesday with a sterling performance in the team’s biggest game of the season.
Hornback tossed a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts and no walks and hit a two-run homer as Oregon City (11-1, 2-0), which entered No. 5 in the OSAA Class 6A power rankings, went on the road for an 8-1 win over No. 3 Clackamas (13-3, 3-1) in a matchup of Mt. Hood Conference powers at Hood View Park.
It was the sixth consecutive win for the reigning conference champion Pioneers over the Cavaliers, including a second-round Class 6A playoff victory last year.
“They’re always at the top of our league, and we feel like we have to play our best every time we come here over the years,” Adelhart said. “They’ve always been tough. We felt like this was a must-win game for us.”
The Cavaliers, runners-up to Oregon City in the Mt. Hood last year, struggled to catch up to Hornback, who has struck out 92 batters in 65 innings this season. The second time through the batting order, Hornback fanned eight consecutive hitters.
“She’s got some great pitches,” first-year Clackamas coach Angela Hemming said. “Even though we’ve had a great season starting off, it’s hard because we’ve never faced anybody like that.
“You really have to stay on your toes. As soon as you fall behind, it’s hard to catch up with her. Hopefully now that we’ve seen her, when we go back and see them May 5, we can make some adjustments.”
Hornback seems to have the Cavaliers’ number. She is 6-0 against them in her three seasons as Oregon City’s ace, recording 20 strikeouts in one win over Clackamas last season.
“Clackamas has always been one of our rivals,” Hornback said. “Getting the win gives us more confidence for the rest of the league.”
Hornback, senior first baseman Jadwyn Parrish, freshman catcher Isabelle Lewis and junior utility player Zoie Iverson each had two hits for the Pioneers, who rapped 10 hits off Clackamas sophomore Shaylee Monise and junior Nicole McBride.
Hornback blasted a two-run homer to left field to make it 3-0 in the third inning and Iverson and Parrish had RBI doubles in a four-run seventh inning as Oregon City made it 8-0.
Clackamas got its only run in the bottom of the seventh when junior Kylee Vanderbout clubbed a home run off Hornback.
It was another dominant performance by the Pioneers, who extended their winning streak to nine. Led by Hornback (five home runs), Iverson (18 RBIs) and Lewis (.643 batting average), their offense is potent. They were batting .395 as a team entering the game.
How does Oregon City compare to last year's quarterfinal team?
“It’s just deeper,” Adelhart said. “We don’t lose anything by bringing any player in the game at any time. It’s hard for me this year to really find playing time for everybody.”
Hornback said Oregon City has “great team chemistry. We have fun when we’re on the field. I think that’s what really separates us this year from last year.”
The addition of Lewis -- who splits time at catcher with Iverson, last year’s starter -- also has provided a boost.
“I’m super glad that she’s here,” Iverson said. “Sharing time, I’m fine with it. We have another great catcher behind the plate. And she’s an asset to the team. Really helps us out.”
The ball jumps off Lewis’ bat.
“Everybody said, ‘Isabelle is coming, Isabelle is coming,’ and I never really got to see her play before she came up here,” Adelhart said. “She’s a great kid. She’s very relaxed at the plate and during the game. And she’s very confident.”
Wednesday was scheduled as a home game for Oregon City but it was moved to Hood View Park because of poor field conditions, giving Clackamas the home game. That means the teams are scheduled to play at Oregon City in the second round of conference play.
-- Jerry Ulmer
julmer@oregonian.com
503-816-7323
@jerryulmer