The Thurston Colts moved one step closer to a state title after a gritty 4‑2 win over Bend in the opening round of the OSAA 5A baseball playoffs on Tuesday night.
Right‑hander Grady Saunders, the top pitching prospect in Oregon, turned in a complete‑game effort that left the Bend lineup flailing for most of the night.
Saunders struck out ten batters while walking just one, and he nearly recorded a no‑hitter before a late single slipped through.
The performance was the culmination of a season in which the senior class has been driven by a desire to avenge last year’s semifinal loss to Canby.
Head coach Dennis Minium praised the team’s composure, noting that the defense made several key plays that kept the lead intact.
Brock Johnson contributed a double and went 2‑for‑4 at the plate, while Levi Woodman added a home run and a double, finishing 2‑for‑2.
Shortstop Luke Blair and utility player Spencer Dildine also logged solid defensive moments, with Blair’s glove work on a hard‑hit ball in the fifth inning drawing particular praise.
Quarterfinal Outlook
The Colts will now travel to face unbeaten Corvallis, a team that has dropped only a single game since early April, in the quarterfinals.
Corvallis arrives with a potent offense, but Thurston’s senior core believes their experience and recent defensive adjustments give them a realistic shot at pulling off an upset.
If the Colts can replicate the poise they showed against Bend, the matchup could hinge on whether Saunders can again dominate the mound.
The stakes are high, and the community is eager to see whether the Colts can translate their regular‑season momentum into a deep playoff run.