Pilots win state title

Ashland Pilots Nicholas Hall, left, Lewis Sebrell, middle, and Luke Jannusch, right, mob pitcher Sam Gaviglio after beating Sunset Platt Electric to clinch the American Legion A state championships Monday at Sunset High School in Beaverton. Roland Simmons | For the Tidings

BEAVERTON — Don Senestraro expected the Ashland Pilots American Legion A baseball team to get added experience this summer for the high school season next spring.

Nothing more.

"Now we've got this amazing journey they're taking me on," said the coach.

The journey got considerably longer when the Pilots completed an undefeated run through the state tournament and captured the Oregon championship with a scintillating, 7-6 victory over Sunset Platt Electric on Monday.

Ashland next will board a plane Aug. 15 for the regional tournament in Anchorage, Alaska.

"That was our chant right there, that we're not finished," said Senestraro of the Pilots' postgame revelry. "We want to go up there and show everyone that baseball in the Pacific Northwest is alive and well. We're going to do the best we can to bring home some more hardware."

The Pilots (35-10) became the second straight Area 4 team to win state, taking over for the North Medford Mavericks, who were eliminated Sunday by Sunset. Sunset had to defeat Ashland twice to win the crown in the double-elimination format.

In the regular season, Ashland was second to North Medford in the Area 4 standings, but the Pilots went on a roll in the postseason.

It carried into the ninth inning Monday when, trailing by one, they produced two runs in the top of the frame, then blanked Sunset in its half to secure the title.

"It feels really good," said Senestraro. "I'm real proud of the kids. I've gotten a million phone calls already. Everyone's really elated. This is good for the city of Ashland, but most of all, I'm happy for the kids. They deserve all the accolades they get. They work extremely hard and love the game of baseball and deserve some props.

"They were there to take care of business and boy did they ever."

Ashland got solo home runs from tournament most valuable player Ian Kendall and from Dan Meza and appeared to be in control with a 5-1 lead through six innings. But Sunset put up a five-spot in the seventh to move in front by a run.

The Pilots continue to celebrate. Roland Simmons | For the Tidings

The score stayed 6-5 heading into the ninth, when Lewis Sebrell and Garrett Tygerson opened the inning with a single and a hit by pitch, respectively. Owen Baldrica's sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position at third and second.

Consecutive walks to Sam Gaviglio and Luke Jannusch scored Sebrell with the tying run.

Max Gordon brought in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Another fly to center ended the surge.

"They're just a very resilient group of boys," said Senestraro, noting that the Pilots had to rally in an earlier game against the Mavericks. "That was almost the same as this. Our kids believe they can win every time they take the field. They have a lot of confidence."

In the bottom of the ninth, Sunset leadoff hitter Dave Hosmar walked and stole second base. He moved to third on a ground out to third base, then got caught in a rundown and was tagged out following another grounder to third baseman Jannusch.

Gaviglio then struck out Scott Williams with a runner at second to end the game.

"He just came in the seventh and slammed the door," Senestraro said of Gaviglio. "He had great control and was able to hit his spots. I'm very proud of the way he pitched. He just did a great job. His role has been as a starter, but he might be changing roles. He has filthy stuff, and when he comes in, he's tough to hit."

Ashland scored three runs in the third on a run-scoring double by Tygerson and a two-run single by Baldrica.

"I think our lineup, one through nine, can hit with anyone," Senestraro said. "It's a batting order that's just tough to get out, and when they do hit the ball they hit the ball tremendously hard, which creates errors and creates pressure on the defense."

Lewis Sebrell had three hits, and Tygerson, Jannusch and Hayden Miller had two each.

Kendall's home run to lead off the game was his fourth in five tournament contests. He batted .375.

"Man, he is a gifted athlete," said Senestraro. "He's going to be fun to watch as he develops as an Ashland High baseball player."

Ashland Pilots 103 100 002 — 7 12 0

Sunset Platt Electric 001 000 500 — 6 13 1

C. Sebrell, Gaviglio (7) and L. Sebrell; Layfollette, Williams (4), Manus (8) and Chamberlain. W — Gaviglio (7-4). L — Manus. 2B — A: Baldrica, Jannusch; S: Olney, Duggan. HR — A: Kendall, Meza; S: Taylor.

Sports Editor Joe Zavala can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 224 or joe.zavala@dailytidings.com