Portland Christian surprises Tigers

The Clatskanie High School varsity baseball won 19 games in the regular season, including a record of 14-1 in league play. Unfortunately for the Tigers, there would not be a 20th victory, as visiting Portland Christian ousted Clatskanie from the playoffs with an 8-3 victory on Wednesday, May 28. Jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, Portland Christian would add another five runs in the second off of starting pitcher Luke Andreasen and reliever Zach Mollenhour - both juniors - to take a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the third. Tacking on another run in both the third and fourth innings, Portland Christian had a virtually insurmountable 8-0 lead going into the fifth. Scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers would run out of gas in the sixth and seventh, resulting in the 8-3 final.

Andreasen, senior Brendan Shroll, and junior Finn McDonnell combined for the team’s three RBI. Senior Ben Blackwood and junior Cash Doney each scored a run and collected two hits, and junior Bode Shulda scored the team’s only other run in the losing effort. Freshman Will Van Voorst had the team’s only other hit, and Shroll had the team’s lone stolen base. Four defensive errors on each side would plague both of the teams’ starting pitchers, but Portland Christian’s Noah Humphrey was able to come away with a complete-game victory, allowing eight hits and no earned runs over seven innings.

For Clatskanie, Andreasen and Mollenhour struck out a combined five batters, but allowed a combined 10 hits and four earned runs. Division 2A/1A SD1 Player of the Year Andreasen took the loss for the Tigers, lasting only an inning and a third. “The Tigers look to return the bulk of their team for next year and are hoping for another good season,” said Coach Ryan Tompkins, as seniors Blackwood, Shroll, Victor Frank, and Carter White, so far, are the only Clatskanie players who will not be returning in 2026.