Churchill wins despite ongoing drought at plate.

Byline: Jeff Smith The Register-Guard

For a team that had just clinched at least a share of its first league title in 24 years, Churchill kept things pretty low-key Monday.

In fact, the second-ranked Lancers even looked and sounded frustrated after their 3-2 win over North Eugene moved them one victory away from their first-ever outright Midwestern League baseball championship, which they shared in 1980.

"No celebration at this moment," second-year coach Erik Hoberg said. "Even though we have a win, I don't think guys are happy. I don't think we're pleased with the way we're performing, and we have a lot of room for improvement. We're not satisfied. We've got to get better."

The crux of the frustration is Churchill's (12-2) lack of production from its potent offense that earlier in the year had consistently scored in double digits. Monday's game was the Lancers' fifth straight with six runs or less, including a 3-0 shutout loss to Lebanon on May 3.

"We have to be more aggressive at the plate," Hoberg said. "In the beginning of the season we were more aggressive. Today, we didn't do that."

But two of Churchill's five hits off effective North Eugene starter Jon Keller were timely ones. After the Lancers tied the game at 1-1 on a two-out error in the second inning, they took a 2-1 lead in the third when Travis Larsen ripped an RBI double to left-center field.

Then in the sixth, cleanup hitter Corey Kent launched a solo homer over the tall left-field fence at Swede Johnson Stadium, where the game was switched to in the afternoon after Churchill's field was dampened with rain.

"I thought it was a pop-up," Kent said of his high-arcing shot that proved to be the game-winner after North Eugene's Shawn Peterson made it 3-2 in the top of the seventh with an infield RBI single.

Sophomore Jerad Thompson picked up the win in relief for the Lancers after striking out nine in five innings.

"Right now he's probably pitching the best out of all our pitchers," said Hoberg, whose team can clinch the outright title with a win over South Eugene on Wednesday or Springfield on Friday. "I don't think anything phases him."

North Eugene loaded the bases in the first but didn't score before taking a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single Danny Winterstein.

The Highlanders (8-6), who have won at least a share of the league title the last three years, find themselves tied for fourth place with Lebanon in the race for one of the league's four playoff seeds.

"Fate's in our own hands," North Eugene coach Corey Nicholsen said, "and that's all we can ask for."

Lebanon 3, South Eugene 2

LEBANON - Drew George was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs and Phil Wright struck out eight in seven innings as the Warriors moved into a tie for fourth place with North Eugene.

Junior Zach Taylor hit a two-run single for the Axemen.

Springfield 6, Willamette 4

Chris Coontz was 2-for-3 with a three-run triple to highlight a four-run fourth inning for the Millers.

Springfield pitcher Joaquin Lopez struck out 10 and scattered eight hits over seven innings.

Chris Immonen struck out seven in seven innings and was also 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Wolverines.

Douglas 15, Marshfield 4

COOS BAY - Matt Shaver was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run to lead the Trojans. Ethan Robbins and Kenny McCullers each doubled in the 13-hit attack.

Big Fir League

Reedsport 11, North Douglas 0

DRAIN - Daniel Mast was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and Brett Butler was 3-for-4 with four RBIs as the Braves (10-1 Big Fir) pulled within a game of first-place Oakland.

Reedsport pitcher Danny Dickson threw a three-hitter with eight strikeouts.