The most memorable Salem-area high school spring sports moments from the 2024 season

Posted by Admin December 30, 2024 Sports

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Last spring, plenty of Salem-Keizer-area high school athletes and teams produced memorable baseball, softball, golf, tennis, and track and field performances.

Here is a look back at some of the top moments.

Mihaly Akpamgbo gets back-to-back 200-meter dash titles

There was no shortage of standout performances from local athletes at this year’s OSAA track and field state championships.

West Salem senior sprinter Mihaly Akpamgbo became the lone big-school champion from local programs this season when he repeated as Class 6A champion at 200 meters with a winning time of 21.37 seconds.

He became the first athlete to earn back-to-back 6A 200 titles since North Medford’s Tyren Wolfe did so in 2015 and 2016.

Although no Salem-Keizer programs earned a team title, a flurry of individuals took home titles in their respective events.

Salem-Keizer girls track and field title winners

Haley Butenschoen (Stayton) — 4A 400
Celia James (Salem Academy) — 2A 400
Hadley Hughes (Willamina) — 2A shot put
Averie Peterson (Santiam) — 2A 800 meter, triple jump
Grace Mucken (Blanchet Catholic) 2A pole vault
Molly Mucken (Blanchet Catholic) 2A girls discus
Salem Academy 4×400 meter relay

Salem-Keizer boys track and field title winners

Mihaly Akpamgbo (West Salem) — 6A 200
Ralph Pohlschneider (St. Paul) — 2A 400
Kiyan Vrell (Amity) — 3A javelin
St. Paul — 1A 4×400 meter relay

Salem Academy girls golf captures first-ever state title

The Salem Academy girls golf team used a dominant day-two performance to earn its first-ever state title on May 14.

During the 4A/3A/2A/1A championship at Tokatee Golf Club in McKenzie Bridge, the Crusaders cruised to victory with a team score of 758 over two rounds to finish with a team score of 80-over, finishing well ahead of runner-up Crook County (772 overall, +94).

Despite rolling out a squad of three freshmen and one sophomore, Salem Academy showed plenty of poise when it shot 368 as a team — 10 strokes better than any other school — on the final day of the state championship to secure the title.

6: Chloe Johnston (171)
8: Alexandrea Willcoxen (179)
13: Ellie Gladow (181)
47: Sloane James (227)

Scio softball reaches second consecutive state softball championship

For the second season in a row, Scio softball steamrolled its way through the regular season before earning a trip to the state title game.

The Loggers fell 9-1 to South Umpqua in the 3A championship game at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, marking the second consecutive spring that they have fallen one win short of the program’s first softball state title.

Along the way, though, they delivered one of the more dominant season-long performances in the state.

Scio finished the year 25-2 and went 14-0 in 3A Special District 2. They scored 270 runs on the year — second-most in the state among 3A programs — while allowing just 43.

Loggers’ utility player Myleigh Cooper was named 3A state player of the year for the second season in a row.

Along with Cooper, catcher Cam Dalke, infielder Meagan Trissel and outfielder Taryn Ramsay earned first-team all-state honors. Infielders Macy Johnson and Khloe Free received second-team all-state recognition.

Salem-Keizer high school baseball success

Achievement on the baseball diamond in the spring was highlighted by state semifinal appearances from South Salem (6A), North Marion/Gervais (4A) and Blanchet Catholic (2A/1A). South Salem led the 6A classification with 275 runs scored.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney