Sheldon enjoyed the best fastpitch season in its history in 2008, advancing to the Final Four in the OSAA 6A Playoffs with exceptional and exciting play from a strong, senior-led squad.
The Irish captured the third seed in the Southwest Conference with an 8-7 record, sweeping South Eugene and South Medford, and taking two of three from North Medford. Sheldon enjoyed a big win over Lincoln in the first round of the playoffs, then took two hard fought and well-played games against high quality opponents, West Salem and McMinnville, to obtain a Final Four berth alongside Southwest Conference foes Roseburg and Grants Pass. Eventual State Champion Grants Pass ended the Irish season in the semi-finals.
Eight Irish players were named to the SWC All-League team: Teea Rogers, Taylor Pangilinan, Chloe Buerstatte, Katie Steigleman, Sienna Stanley, Tami Brown, Kaitlyn Patterson, and Taylor Taggart.
Chloe Buerstatte, Teea Rogers, and Taylor Pangilinan were named to the 2008 Oregon 6A All-State Team.
First-year Sheldon varsity letter awards were awarded to Taylor Taggart, Chloe Stiles, and Jandee Todd. Annual awards were given to the following:
Most Improved Player: Jessica Patterson
Coaches Award: Kaitlyn Patterson
Offensive Players of the Year: Chloe Buerstatte, Katie Steigleman
Defensive Player of the Year: Tami Brown
Most Valuable Player: Taylor Pangilinan
Game Summaries:
May 27
Varsity (18-12): Grants Pass 6, Sheldon 0 (Playoffs, Round Four)
Sheldon closed the season with a semi-final loss at home. The game marked the first time Sheldon has reached the "final four" in the State playoffs. Chloe Buerstatte had the only Irish hit off Morgan Barnes, the Grants Pass pitcher.
May 23
Varsity (18-11): Sheldon 4, McMinnville 1 (Playoffs, Round Three)
Sheldon advanced to the 6A semi-finals with the road victory in McMinnville. The Irish struck for three runs in the 4th inning, highlighted by a 2-run inside-the-park homerun by Taylor Pangilinan. Sheldon picked up a key insurance run in the 7th inning courtesy of the Patterson sisters: Jessica delivered a two-out double, and scored on a single up the middle by Kaitlyn. The Irish played errorless ball behind the two hit pitching of Sienna Stanley.
May 20
Varsity (17-11): Sheldon 5, West Salem 4 (Playoffs, Round Two)
The Irish took a hard-fought victory over West Salem with a run in the bottom of the 7th inning. Chloe Buerstatte led off the inning with her second hit; was sacrificed to second base by Taylor Taggart; and scored the winning run on a hard hit ball by Katie Stiegleman that bounced off the West Salem shortstop into left field. Earlier, Taylor Pangilinan had delivered a 2-run double to get the Irish even in the bottom of the first inning. Theresa Brown followed with a 2-run single in the second inning to give the Irish a lead it would hold until the fifth. Sienna Stanley scattered six hits to secure the win in the circle.
May 16
Varsity (16-11): Sheldon 18, Lincoln 3 (Playoffs, Round One)
The Irish erupted for 18 hits on a very hot day to take an easy win at Delta Park. Kaitlyn Patterson had 3 hits and 3 RBI, and Teea Rogers had 4 RBI on two hits. Every Irish starter had at least one hit. Sienna Stanley earned the win in the circle.
May 14
Varsity (15-11): Marist 7, Sheldon 0
Nyree White limited the Irish to singles by Tami Brown and Taylor Pangilinan to secure the non-league win in a playoff tuneup for both teams. Sienna Stanley pitched five innings of no-hit ball before being removed to rest for the upcoming playoff game.
May 10
Varsity (15-10, 8-7 SWC): Roseburg 7, Sheldon 5
Roseburg 2, Sheldon 1
Roseburg took two tightly played games to close out the conference season. Teea Rogers' home run accounted for Sheldon's only run in the first game. The Irish loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a hit and two walks, but were unable to tie the score. In game two, the Irish combined four hits and two walks to bat around in the second inning and take a 5-1 lead. Katie Stiegleman had a 2RBI single in the inning. Roseburg came back with timely hitting to secure the win. Theresa Brown was the only Sheldon player with two hits for the game.
Jr Var (7-16): Roseburg won both games
May 6
Varsity (15-8, 8-5 SWC): Sheldon 4, South Eugene 0
Sienna Stanley scattered four hits and struck out seven with no walks to earn the shutout victory. Theresa Brown knocked in three of the Irish runs with two singles. Sister Tami also had two hits for the Irish. Chloe Buerstatte knocked in the other run with a bases-loaded bunt single.
Jr Var (7-14): Sheldon 16, South Eugene 14
May 3
Varsity (14-8, 7-5 SWC): North Medford 7, Sheldon 3
Sheldon 4, North Medford 3 (game 1)
Sheldon took game one of the doubleheader against North Medford to clinch the third playoff position in the SWC. The win gives the Irish a three game lead over North Medford with three games to play, and the tie-breaker, should it be needed, by reason of taking the season series two games to one. Sienna Stanley scattered four hits to secure the win. Taylor Pangilinan had a big two-run single in game one, and added a home run over the right field fence in the second game.
Jr Var (6-14): North Medford won both games
April 29
Varsity (13-7, 6-4 SWC): Sheldon 14, South Medford 4
Sheldon erupted for 12 runs in the 6th inning to capture the home win. The Irish came back from a 4-run deficit with two runs in the 4th before capping the comeback with the big 6th inning. Sheldon saw 10 straight batters reach base and score in the 6th before an out was recorded, followed by the final two runs after one out. The big blows were delivered by Theresa Brown, whose 2-run double put the Irish into the lead. She later ended the game with a 2-run homer over the left field fence. In between, Katie Steigleman crushed a 3-run homer to pad the score. Sheldon's outfielders had big days: Chloe Buerstatte and Taylor Taggart each had two hits and an RBI, and Jessica Patterson added 3 hits and scored a run. Kaitlyn Patterson and Tami Brown also had two hits each; both of Kaitlyn's came in the big 6th inning. Sienna Stanley scattered 7 hits and gave up only one earned run to pick up the win in the circle.
Jr Var (6-12): South Medford 12, Sheldon 2
April 28
Varsity (12-7, 5-4 SWC): Roseburg 10, Sheldon 1
Makayla Endicott limited the Irish to three hits to secure the victory for Roseburg.
Jr Var (6-11): Roseburg over Sheldon
April 25
Varsity (12-6, 5-3 SWC): Grants Pass 11, Sheldon 1
Grants Pass 4, Sheldon 0
Grants Pass pitchers Morgan Barnes and Chelsea Chamberlain shut down the Irish bats on five hits for the day to sweep the doubleheader. Teea Rogers was 2-4 with a home run in the second game to account for most of Sheldon's offensive output.
Jr Var (6-10): Grants Pass won both games in the double header.
April 19
Varsity (12-4, 5-1 SWC): Sheldon 3, South Medford 1
Sheldon 4, South Medford 2
The Irish used two 6th inning rallies to capture both ends of the doubleheader. In the first game, Katie Steigleman had two doubles including a two-run blast in the 6th. Taylor Pangilinan added two hits and 2RBIs to the Irish cause. In the second game, Jessica Patterson and Teea Rogers delivered two-out 6th inning singles followed by a long blast by Taylor Pangilinan that went for a triple to put the Irish in the lead. Kaitlyn Patterson knocked in Taylor for the key insurance run.
Sienna Stanley went the distance in the first game, and Torie Halverson pitched an outstanding second game with late inning relief from Stanley to secure the two wins. The two gave up only one walk to South Medford in 14 innings. Taylor Pangilinan keyed a solid defense in both games, starting two double plays and making several fine stops in the field.
Jr Var (6-8): South Medford 11, Sheldon 1
South Medford 6, Sheldon 2
April 15
Varsity (10-4): Grants Pass 6, Sheldon 1
The Irish managed only three hits in the loss. Teea Rogers homered for the only Irish run. Grants Pass scored in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings to break open a tight game.
Jr Var (6-6): Grants Pass 14, Sheldon 0
April 12
Varsity (10-3): Sheldon 5, South Eugene 2
Torie Halverson scattered two hits over five innings, and Katie Steigleman closed out the Lady Axe for the second game win. Taylor Pangilinan belted a two-run homer to lead the offense; Theresa Brown had a two-hit day, including a double.
Varsity: (9-3): Sheldon 17, South Eugene 0
Katie Steigleman and Taylor Pangilinan led a 15-hit attack in the first game of the double header - each had 4 RBI for the game. Five other players had multi-hit games. Sienna Stanley and Katie Steigleman combined to shut out SE on one hit.
Jr Var (6-5): Sheldon 17, South Eugene 13
Sheldon 7, South Eugene 6
April 10
Varsity (8-3): Sheldon 3, North Medford 0
Sheldon broke open a tight game with three runs in the 6th inning to capture a road win in the conference opener for both teams. Chloe Buerstatte and Taylor Taggart opened the inning with consecutive hits, and Katie Steigleman drove them in with a two-run double. Teea Rogers followed with an RBI single scoring Steigleman. Sienna Stanley scattered four hits with an outstanding performance in the circle to pick up the win for the Irish.
Jr Var (4-5): North Medford 10, Sheldon 0
April 5
Jr Var (4-4: Sheldon 15, Cottage Grove 5
Sheldon 20, Cottage Grove 5
April 4
Varsity (7-3): Sheldon 21, Lincoln 4 (5 innings)
Sheldon's bats exploded for 17 hits in the lopsided win to close out the pre-conference schedule. Tami Brown (3 hits, including a home run and 4RBI) and Cleo Nagy (3 hits, including a triple and grand slam home run, and 5RBI) led the attack. Kaitlyn Patterson had a triple and 4RBI, while Chloe Buerstatte added four hits, including three in the 3rd inning. Taylor Pangilinan and Taylor Taggart each had two-hit games.
April 3
Varsity (6-3): Sheldon 4, West Salem 1
Sheldon coupled solid defense with timely offense to take the win. Taylor Pangilinan, Teea Rogers, and Kaitlyn Patterson contributed key RBI hits, but the entire lineup contributed to the offensive effort. Sienna Stanley went the distance in the circle for the win.
Jr Var (2-4): West Salem 14, Sheldon 1
March 31
Jr Var (2-3): Sheldon 11, Thurston 2
Thurston 13, Sheldon 0
March 29
Varsity (5-3): Sheldon 7, Turlock 3
The Irish bats finally woke up in the final appearance at the NorCal Classic. Chloe Buerstatte, Taylor Taggart, Taylor Pangilinan, and Chloe Stiles each had two hits for Sheldon. Stiles delivered the big blow with a bases-loaded double to give the Irish a lead they would not relinquish. Taggart had her second triple of the tournament, and Pangilinan and Patterson each had doubles - Kaitlyn's double added two key insurance runs late in the game. Sienna Stanley threw 5+ innings of one-hit ball in relief to pick up the win.
Varsity (4-3): LeGrand (CA) 4, Sheldon 1
Kaitlyn Patterson was 2-3 with a stolen base and scored Sheldon's only run.
March 27
Varsity (4-2): Sheldon 4, Sierra (Manteca, CA) 2
Sheldon struck for 11 hits to support a strong effort from Sienna Stanley in the circle to record the win. Kaitlyn Patterson had two timely hits and 3RBI to pace the Irish. Chloe Buerstatte added two hits and an RBI, and Tami Brown had a double and a triple in an outstanding performance at the plate.
Varsity (3-2): Ceres (CA) 3, Sheldon 2
The Irish fell victim to defensive lapses in the bottom of the 7th inning to give up two runs and the game to Ceres in the Norcal Classic.
March 22
Varsity (3-1): Sheldon 11, West Albany 1 (5 innings)
Chloe Buerstatte led a balanced offensive attack as the Irish took a comfortable win over West Albany. Jessica Patterson, Taylor Pangilinan, and Katie Steigleman each contributed 3 RBI with timely hitting. Sienna Stanley went the distance in the circle, allowing only one run and scattering five hits.
Jr Var (1-2): West Albany 17, Sheldon 5
March 19
Varsity (2-1): Sheldon 18, Thurston 4 (5 innings)
The Irish unleashed a 14-hit attack and took advantage of Thurston's defensive lapses to coast to the win. Chloe Buerstatte (3-4), Katie Steigleman (2-4, 2RBI), and Jessica Patterson (2-3, 2R, and an RBI) continued their strong starts to the season, while Teea Rogers (2-4, 4RBI) and Taylor Pangilinan (2-4, with a HR and 4RBI) had breakout days. Taylor Taggart and Chloe Stiles, the only freshmen on the varsity, each had their first hits as varsity players. Sienna Stanley and Torie Halverson limited the Colts to only one hit in five innings.
Jr Var (1-1): Game cancelled due to unplayable field conditions
March 17
Varsity (1-1): David Douglas 3, Sheldon 1
Sheldon pitchers limited David Douglas to three hits, but two were back-to-back home runs in the 3rd inning to account for all David Douglas runs. The Irish had nine hits, but left ten runners on base in a frustrating offensive performance. Chloe Buerstatte led the Irish with three hits, stole a base, and scored the team's only run. Katie Steigleman and Tami Brown added two hits each.
Jr Var (1-1): David Douglas 12, Sheldon 3
March 11
Varsity (1-0): Sheldon 10, North Eugene 7 (9 innings)
The Irish opened the season with a 9 inning, 10-7 victory over North Eugene. Sheldon overcame early defensive lapses and battled from behind to tie the game in the 7th inning before securing the win with three runs in the top of the 9th. Chloe Buerstatte singled in Chloe Stiles with the go-ahead run, and Kaitlyn Patterson followed with a two-run double to add important insurance. Katie Steigleman picked up the pitching win with 5 innings of shutout relief, to go with an outstanding day at the plate: two walks, two doubles, two RBI, and scored a run. Teea Rogers and Chloe Buerstatte added three hits each, and Jessica Patterson had two hits and two key assists from right field to secure important outs at second base.
Jr. Var (1-0): Sheldon 27, North Eugene 2
