KLAMATH FALLS, Ore – The Henley Hornets (23-1) defeated the Cascade Christian Challengers (19-6) in a non-league game on Wednesday 12-2. The Hornets collected 10 hits in the game to earn their 18th straight win.
The Hornets struck first in the bottom of the first when Mark Carpenter grounded into a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded. The Challengers answered with two runs when Noah Letendre gave them a 2-1 lead on an RBI single to right field. The Challenger lead did not last long as the Hornets scored three runs in the second inning with RBI from Price, Aiden Hayes, and Luke Austin.
The Hornets held the lead and built on it as the wheels came off for Cascade Christian. The Challengers rifled through three pitchers in the contest and committed five errors, leading to five unearned Henley runs. The losing pitcher, Ashton Moody worked 1.2 innings allowing three hits and four earned runs. Wyatt Hurley appeared in relief but gave up six runs in 2.1 innings of work, although only three were earned. Jack Knipps also pitched for Cascade Christian giving up one unearned run in 1.1 innings on the bump.
Henley produced solid pitching and defense throughout the afternoon, turning in their first errorless game since a 16-1 victory over Klamath Union on April 27th. Henley starter Beau Pyle picked up his seventh win of the year and only had to pitch 2.0 innings to do it. He allowed two hits and two runs to score. Corbin Hamilton pitched in relief for 2.1 innings and struck out four batters without allowing a hit. Mark Carpenter slammed the door, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out five Challengers.
For Henley, Payton Price led the team with two hits and added an RBI with two runs scored. Shively, Owen Harper, and Max Price also scored two runs each. Hayes and Carpenter both added RBI along with Lane Frank, Ryan Douglas, and Luke Austin. For Cascade Christian, Noah Letendre went 1-3 with an RBI, and Bryson Walker is credited with the other run when he walked with the bases loaded.
It was senior day for Henley. The Hornets are graduating Luke Austin, Aiden Hayes, Payton Price, Lane Frank, Owen Harper, and Thomas Bocchi.
Wednesday’s game was also an endowment game which means the OSAA Foundation, a non-profit established by the OSAA, takes a portion of the gate fees. The OSAA Foundation supports two main projects which include the Participation Grant, which allows schools to apply for funding for a project that would increase participation, and the Student Assistance Program, which allows schools to nominate student-athletes who could use shoes or gear for their upcoming season.
Henley’s next game is a showdown with the Hidden Valley Mustangs with the Skyline Conference title hanging in the balance. Henley has claimed at least a share of the title, and with one win over the Mustangs they would claim it outright for the second consecutive season. Elsewhere, the Challengers have a Monday double-header with South Umpqua to close the regular season.
