GLADSTONE, Ore.–  The journey of the North Marion Lady Huskies came to an end Wednesday afternoon against a familiar foe in Gladstone in the First-Round of the 4A OSAA Playoffs:

Though their season came to an end, 10-0 to the Gladiators, the 17-10 North Marion team knew that the bad taste from the 2015, 12-14 campaign, was a distant memory.

“This season was a big accomplishment from last year,” said Huskies Senior Catcher Corina Curths.  “We made it further, we all worked together and just did our best.

“We could’ve done better, there’s nothing we can do when they get those hits.  We had to stick with it and get some more outs.”

For two and a half innings, this game featured the arm of Gladstone’s Madi Mott and the defense of North Marion.

Mott had four strikeouts after two innings and the Huskies could only muster two hits entering the bottom of the third inning.

“I just tried to get ahead in the count and just capitalized,” said Mott, who had eight strikeouts in the game.  “I know they’re a great team, they hit well last time, I was just trying to get ahead and finish the game.”

The bats of the Gladiators would wake up in that bottom of the third when Sabrina Ward led off with a double as Gladstone erupted for nine runs that inning.

Lady Huskies Ally Umbenhower tried to explain how her team, as they turned a one, two, three inning in the fourth before a Sydney Kempker single sealed the 10-0, five inning win Wednesday.

“I think we had a mental breakdown,” said Umbenhower.  “Tori (Harper) had a great hit but then the next couple times up we couldn’t get a hold of the ball and it was just downhill from there.”

Harper had the leadoff double in the first inning, Samatha Baylie had a single in the fourth inning for the other hit.

With North Marion loading the buses to head back to Aurora and Gladston awaiting for the winner of Henley/Sweet Home, the underclassmen of the Lady Huskies know the message left behind by their seniors:

Never give up.

“Don’t give up, play your hardest all the way through and trust your teammates,” said Umbenhower. “I’m excited for next season, we’re losing a lot of strong players, but I think we’ll be able to make it work with some of the girls coming up.”

Curths added to what Umbenhower said:

“To give your heart to everything just keep playing and stay motivated,” said Curths.

With Umbenhower, Baylie, Hannah Kinniburgh to name a few with those making the move to Varsity in 2017, the motivation and drive to get back to this point, it’s safe to say that North Marion are confident that they’ll be back next year.

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PHOTO GALLERY (PICTURES BY JEREMY MCDONALD)