In the News: Newberg reaches quarterfinals for first time since 2003 after 8-5 win over Century

Newberg has some success in its baseball history, but it’s starting to get dated. Time to write a new chapter? The 2012 Tigers seem eager.
Newberg exploded for eight hits and six runs during the first two innings on the way to beating Century of Hillsboro 8-5 Wednesday in an OSAA Class 6A second-round game at Newberg High School. The Tigers (18-6) advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003, when they won a state championship.

There is a common thread between that title team and this season’s rebirth: coach Scott Klug. He’s back running the program after resigning a day after Newberg won its 2003 state title.

“Coach, he has a winning attitude. He has it programmed into us that he needs us to be successful,” said Newberg outfielder Jacob Storedahl, who had four hits and three RBI against Century.

Klug’s philosophy is simple. Do things the right way, put out some effort, and act like you care.
“We’re always up from the energy he brings. He makes it a lot of fun to play baseball,” said Tigers pitcher Andrew Reichenbach, who gave up four hits over five innings and got the win.

The surprising Tigers went into the state playoffs as a No. 4 seed after tying for second in the Pacific Conference, their best league finish since, again, 2003. But if Newberg seemed an improbable entry among the final eight playoff teams, imagine if it had been Century.

The Jaguars (10-18) ended the regular season rated No. 38 out of 43 teams in the OSAA 6A standings. Century had to win a game at South Medford just to get into the playoffs. Once there, the Jaguars scored one of the most shocking playoff results in several years, a 1-0 win over No. 1-seeded Lake Oswego on Monday.

“We made the state playoffs a little more interesting for everyone,” Century coach Kyle Bunting said.

What Century couldn’t overcome was an unlikely offensive start by Newberg. The Tigers scored two runs on four singles in the first inning. They added four more in the second on consecutive run-scoring hits by Juan Mauleon, Storedahl and Reichenbach to take a 6-1 lead.

To put the Tigers’ outburst into perspective, they scored six or more runs just once during their final nine regular season games.

“Those first two innings, that’s what won the game,” Storedahl said.

At least it gave Newberg a cushion to withstand a Century rally, which came in the fifth inning when Chaz Stubbs’ bases-clearing double pulled the Jaguars to within 7-5. But Reichenbach and relievers Cody Fletcher and Mauleon pitched their way out of trouble, eventually ending Century’s season.

Newberg had 12 hits off three Century pitchers. Others with multiple-hit games aside from Storedahl were Reichenbach and Mauleon.

“We played Newberg three times in league, so we knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Bunting said. “We competed and gave it a go. Newberg just hit a little too much.”

Nick Daschel, Special to The Oregonian