The diamond is heating up across the Oregon coast, and local baseball teams are delivering some of the most thrilling action of the season. From clutch playoff pushes to stunning upsets, here's a look at how Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, and Knappa are making waves in their respective leagues.
Let's start with the Astoria Fishermen, who are absolutely on fire. After dropping a 3-1 decision to Seaside on April 20, this squad has rattled off six straight wins, catapulting themselves into second place in the Cowapa League. With a 9-10 overall record and a 3-3 mark in league play, the Fishermen are sitting pretty at No. 14 in the 4A rankings. More importantly, that second-place spot currently secures them an automatic postseason berth—a reward for the top two teams in each league.
The turning point came in a pair of nail-biters against Tillamook. Last Friday, Astoria leaned on senior pitchers Dallas Norris and Joey Gramlich, who combined for a shutout effort. Norris tossed five scoreless innings before Gramlich closed the door with six outs, allowing just four hits and striking out eight. At the plate, Gramlich was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, while Norris and Izaac Crawford drove in runs in a 5-1 victory.
Monday's rematch was even tighter, but the Fishermen edged Tillamook 3-1. Norris returned to the mound and delivered a complete-game four-hitter, allowing just one run while outdueling Tillamook ace Kevin Hurliman. Leadoff hitter Sam Schacher went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Sam Mather, Gramlich, Colt Kelly, and Archer Hawkins all added hits to keep the lineup churning.
With momentum on their side, the Fishermen were set to face rival Seaside in a two-game series to close out the week. These games could define their postseason path, and Astoria is hungry to keep the streak alive.
Over in Warrenton, the Warriors are proving they can hang with the best. Last Friday, they stunned the 2A No. 1-ranked Kennedy squad with a 2-0 shutout, thanks to a masterpiece from junior Aaron Neahring. Neahring went the distance, allowing just four hits and striking out four. But he didn't stop there—he also drove in both runs with a single in the top of the third inning, showing that two-way talent can be a game-changer.
Monday's matchup against Neah-Kah-Nie was a grind, but the Warriors found a way. The Pirates, known for pulling off upsets this season, trailed by just one run heading into the sixth inning. Warrenton, however, managed to plate two insurance runs to make it 4-1. Eli Neahring then slammed the door, securing another hard-fought victory and keeping the Warriors' momentum rolling.
As for Seaside and Knappa, both teams continued their league play, adding more drama to an already action-packed season on the diamond. With playoff races tightening and rivalries heating up, these local squads are proving that every pitch, hit, and run matters.