Varsity Softball Playoff Preview

Justin Bian, Sports Executive|May 21, 2023

Jesuit will play West Linn on Monday in hope for a state championship title this season.

Softball is looking for a strong playoff run, coming off losing in the second round against Newberg last season.

One major theme this season has been trusting in the youth, with the team including numerous freshmen and sophomores. The team is led by senior Pema Yehshopa.

It was not the smoothest start for Jesuit at the start of the season, as they lost their first game 11-12 against Barlow. Through their non-league games, they finished with a 6-5 record.

Starting the league, the Crusaders lost against Westview 3-8. This did not stop Jesuit, as they strung together a five-game win streak, beating the likes of Southridge, Aloha, Sunset, Mountainside, and Beaverton.

Following this win streak, the team fell into a rough patch, losing to Sheldon, Westview, and Southridge, respectively. Even with the losses, the Crusaders finished off strong in Metro, winning four straight. Jesuit put up a stellar performance on Senior Night, winning 12-2 against Beaverton. The team celebrated seniors Pema Yehshopa, Hannah Huskey, and Caroline Murphy.

To end the regular season, the team beat McNary and West Linn. One of the most remarkable performances came in their last regular season game against West Linn. Down nine runs, the team scored ten straight to win 15-14 in an enthralling matchup.

In total this season, the team has scored 235 runs and allowed 180 runs. The Crusaders are one of the highest-scoring teams in the state.

Jesuit is currently ranked #13 in OSAA, finishing 17-9 overall and 9-3 in Metro. They will play #20 ranked West Linn on May 22nd. If the Crusaders progress, they will play either McDaniel or McMinnville. It will certainly be an interesting matchup for a team searching for a state title.

About the Contributor

Justin Bian, Sports Executive & Editorial Board Member

Justin Bian is a senior at Jesuit High School and the Sports Executive for the Jesuit Chronicle. He has played soccer for eleven years, and piano for ten. Along with those hobbies, he likes to visit new places around Portland with his family on the weekends. Justin got interested in Journalism because of his older sister, Andrea, who was a staff writer a few years ago. Although his older sister’s experience was a great motivator, the main reason he decided to join Journalism was because of his passion for sports. This year, he hopes to cover a variety of sports and write short stories about the games. He also looks to interview players, coaches, and fans, so that the Jesuit community can get insights on the sports teams. Justin would also like to pursue other forms of media, such as broadcasting and podcasts. He aims to bring relevant news around the Jesuit community based on current events on and off campus. At the end of the year, he hopes to have published many articles and have created lasting relationships with classmates and teachers.

SOFTBALL