Hyre’s Two Homer Game Helps Central Over North Salem

By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SCIO, Ore.– Entering the fourth inning of the Mid-Willamette Conference game between Central and North Salem at Scio High School, a new face entered the circle for the Vikings in Karaline Pfeifer.

Jazmine Young, or Jazzy, had battled through an lower leg issue throughout the game and couldn’t continue with the Panthers leading 3-0 on North Salem.

But that’s when Central, who scored all three of it’s run in the second entering the inning, took off for 11 runs as they made the adjustment from Young to Pfeifer in the inning.

“I think the speed of the pitching was a lot different, we adjusted super awesome. That’s super exciting,” said the Panthers Marian Hyre. “Sometimes it’s harder to go from a faster pitcher to a slower because you have to pay way more attention and you have to have way more self-control. I think we did an awesome job doing that.”

North Salem’s Jazzy Young preparing to throw a pitch in the third inning. Young would leave the game with a lower leg injury (Picture By Jeremy McDonald)

Hyre’s 10 RBI day was noteworthy all in itself but her two homeruns, both coming in the fourth inning, tied her with the school record for most homeruns in a single-season with 10 homeruns with opportunities for the Senior to break the record with games still to play.

“It’s really awesome because I didn’t play my sophomore year. I had a good season last season, but this year I’m just enjoying my last season,” said Hyre. “But it feels awesome, I just want to have a good season so that’s super exciting.”

The Vikings scored three runs in the bottom half of the fourth and two more off a Pfeifer single and a Kaleena Kessinger double in the fifth inning in their 18-5 defeat to the Panthers Wednesday afternoon; but the trick will be how will they finish the season strong with the possibility that Young may not be able to throw Friday against the Foxes.

“I think they learned a lot fighting through adversity and those five freshman, they grew so much along with everyone else. Going into next year, they’re going to be really strong,” said North Salem Head Coach Jay Elders. “Going into our last game against Silverton, I like our chances. Pfeifer is a good little kid so is Cierra (Hernandez), she can throw the ball too.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald