Storm Weathered: Chemeketa Struggles to Contain Mt. Hood’s Power Surge

SALEM, Ore. — It was a challenging afternoon at Belmodis Field as the Chemeketa Storm welcomed a high-powered Mt. Hood Community College squad for a Saturday doubleheader. Despite flashes of defensive resilience and a late offensive spark in the nightcap, the Storm couldn't find an answer for the Saints' relentless hitting, dropping both contests 8-0 and 14-3.

Game 1: Huston Silences the Storm Bats

Final: Mt. Hood 8, Chemeketa 0

The opener was a clinical performance by Mt. Hood's Gracie Huston, who kept the Chemeketa lineup off-balance from the first pitch. The Storm struggled to manufacture baserunners, managing only a single hit—a knock by Laney Deloe—throughout the five-inning contest.

Mt. Hood jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a defensive error and a fielder's choice. The Saints blew the game open in the fourth with a four-run rally, punctuated by Abigail Huspek's RBI double. The power display continued into the fifth, as back-to-back home runs from Kate Dunham and Olivia Stone ended any hopes of a Chemeketa comeback.

Game 2: Offense Finds a Spark Amidst the Rain of Runs

Final: Mt. Hood 14, Chemeketa 3

The nightcap saw the Storm offense show much more life, racking up 10 hits, but they were ultimately overwhelmed by a massive nine-run fourth inning from the Saints.

The Storm found themselves down 4-0 early but began to chip away in the second inning. Melinda Herrejon, who was a bright spot for the Storm all afternoon, laced a double to drive in Laney Deloe for Chemeketa's first run of the day. In the third, Kylie Caraphina brought the dugout to its feet with a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 5-2 and giving the Storm a surge of momentum.

However, that momentum was short-lived. Mt. Hood sent 14 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, utilizing five hits—including a three-run homer by Kate Dunham—and two costly Storm errors to push the score to 14-2. Chemeketa added one final run in the bottom half when Caraphina singled home Herrejon, but the mountain was simply too high to climb.

Standing Tall: Top Performers

While the final scores weren't what the Storm hoped for, several players stood out for their consistency and grit:

• Melinda Herrejon: The third baseman was nearly perfect at the plate in Game 2, going 3-for-3 with an RBI double and two runs scored.

• Kylie Caraphina: Caraphina provided the power, finishing the doubleheader with 2 hits, 2 RBIs, and a towering home run.

• Laney Deloe: Deloe reached base consistently, contributing the only hit in Game 1 and scoring a run in Game 2 after an RBI double.

• Layni Noonkester: The shortstop continued to be a steady presence, recording a double and showing range in the field despite the tough conditions.

The Road Ahead

The doubleheader served as a reminder of the narrow margin for error when facing the top of the NWAC standings. While the pitching staff, led by Addison Bennett and Deloe, battled through 13 combined hits in the second game, the Storm will look to tighten the defense and capitalize on their high-contact hitting as they move into the next week of conference play.

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