Top-ranked Canby baseball falls to Summit in quarterfinals

The No. 1 Cougars had their 16-game winning streak snapped on Friday, May 24, at Canby High School, losing to No. 8 Summit in the quarterfinals of the 5A baseball state playoffs.

Canby never led in the contest, falling behind 2-0 before scoring two runs in the fourth to even the score. The tie didn't last long, with the Storm inking another two runs in the fifth and adding an insurance run in the seventh as the Cougars failed to register another score, ultimately losing 5-2.

"I don't know if I'd say something went wrong. I thought the kids were prepared and and they were ready. Credit to (Summit), they picked up some hits when we didn't," Canby head coach J.J. Stolsig said. "We had our opportunities. Not going to fault our guys. Their pitcher was really tough and he threw well. We just didn't come up with the timely hit we needed."

Summit totaled seven hits and five RBIs, with Alex Via leading the Storm with three hits and two RBIs. Via controlled the mound as well, surrendering two runs on six hits, striking out nine.

The Cougars, meanwhile, recorded six hits and two RBIs. Brady Ackerman and Colby Herren each had two hits, while Quinton Esmay added one hit and one RBI. Esmay started on the mound for Canby, surrendering two runs on two hits over three innings, striking out one and walking two. Ackerman pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out three and walking one.

The Storm scored its first run in the opening frame, as Preston Sexson hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Slater DeBrun to scamper home. Canby went three up, three down in the bottom half, leading to a scoreless second inning. In the third, Via drove in DeBrun off an RBI-single to right field. The Cougars managed a hit of their own, with Joe Scott advancing Hayden Davis, who was walked, to scoring position at third.

Unfortunately, they couldn't capitalize. With Ackerman facing a 1-2 count, Scott attempted to steal second but was caught in a rundown for the final out of the inning. Ackerman opened the fourth on the bump, forcing a three up, three down. The momentum carried over, as Ackerman returned to the plate and hit a double to right field. Colby Herren followed it with a single. A sacrifice bunt from Blake Miller scored Ackerman, with Esmay driving in Canby's final run with an RBI-double to center field.

Another two runs from Summit stretched the lead to 4-2. Ackerman opened the frame with a strikeout, but gave up a monster triple to Tanner McIntyre, and proceeded to walk DeBrun. Via hit an RBI-single to score McIntyre, while a balk on the ensuing at-bat advanced DeBrun to third. He ultimately made it home on a pop out, diving past Miller's outstretched hands.

The offensive woes continued for the Cougars the rest of the way as they managed just one hit. Canby finishes its season at 25-4.

"The seniors this year — seven of them — those guys worked hard and helped elevate the program," Stolsig said. "We do have a lot of people that can come back. We just got to make sure those guys get better, not just a year older, but get better. We just got to keep working, and we'll get there."