GLADSTONE — It was hardly artistic, but Madras is not playing for style points.

The White Buffaloes are playing for a league title.

With the help of Gladstone errors that led to three unearned runs, Madras defeated the Gladiators 3-1 Tuesday in a meeting of Tri-Valley Conference softball co-leaders.

The decision left the White Buffaloes (16-6 overall) alone in first place in the league standings at 11-2 with two TVC games remaining. Gladstone, which lost 6-3 in the teams’ earlier matchup April 24 in Madras, slipped to 10-3 and into second place.

Madras is looking to repeat as Tri-Valley champion.

“If we win out, we’re league champs again,” beamed White Buffaloes coach Shawna McConnell, whose team hosts Molalla today and plays at North Marion in its TVC finale on Friday.

Madras won despite getting just three hits to Gladstone’s six. The difference was defense.

“We played great defense … just played beautifully today,” said McConnell, noting that the Buffs committed just one error.

The Gladiators, meanwhile, were charged with four errors, including two on one play that resulted in a 2-0 Madras lead in the third inning.

The visitors added an insurance run in the sixth on a one-out rally that started with a single by Raylene Jones and ended with pinch runner Kasheena Stevens scoring on an error on Cheyenne Parsons’ fly ball to left-center field.

“We’d been on the other end of that,” said McConnell of the gift runs. “We made the most of their mistakes and took advantage today.”

Jamie Moe was the complete-game winning pitcher, allowing six singles while striking out six batters and issuing two walks.

In other Tuesday action:

GIRLS GOLF

Redmond sends one to state

CORVALLIS — Redmond’s Chelsea Driggers carded a 90 during the second day of the Central Valley Conference District tournament at Trysting Tree Golf Club. The performance vaulted her to a sixth-place finish and qualified her for the Class 6A girls golf state championships next Monday and Tuesday at Trysting Tree. Redmond’s Cayla Lussier shot a 97 to finish eighth overall. Redmond finished third as a team with a two-day total score of 816. Sprague won the tournament with a 784.

Cowgirls, Hawks go 1-2 at Tokatee

BLUE RIVER — Crook County’s Kirsti Kelso shot an 87 during the second round of the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 5 championship at Tokatee Golf Club to end the two-day tournament with a 173 to claim medalist honors over runner-up Sydney King of McKenzie, who posted a 175. With Kelso leading the way, the Cowgirls cruised to the district title with a team score of 762 strokes. La Pine finished second by carding a 786, Sisters was third with an 847 and Cottage Grove rounded out the team scoring with a 942. Crook County and La Pine both advance to next week’s Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament at Eagle Crest. Individually, Victoria Sample of Bend’s Trinity Lutheran followed up her Monday score of 91 with an 86 during the second and final day of the tournament to end competition in third place overall with a 177. Sample and McKenzie High’s King and Taya Harbick (fifth, 183 strokes) all earned individual state berths by finishing among the top five. The Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships start Monday.

Buffs conclude season at districts

BORING — Madras senior Kecia Florenda shot a career-best 105 during the second day of the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2 championships to highlight the White Buffaloes’ final day of the season. Madras carded a 925 as a team and did not qualify for the state tournament. Molalla won the two-day event with a 737, and Catlin Gabel took second with a 860.

BOYS GOLF

Two Panthers earn tickets to state

CORVALLIS — Redmond’s Mason Rodby and Ben Moore will advance to the Class 6A state tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell next week as the two Panthers were among the top three golfers at the Central Valley Conference championship tournament that were not part of the top two teams. Redmond finished third overall with a two-day score of 652. Sprague won the district title with a 616 and West Salem was second with 633. Rodby shot a 152 to take third, while Moore posted a 164 and finished 11th overall. The 6A state tournament starts Monday.

Cowboys headed to 4A championships

UNION — Crook County’s Billy Dockins posted a 1-over-par 73 in the second round of the Class 4A Greater Oregon League championships to lead the Cowboys to a second-place finish at the two-day event. La Grande ended tourney play with a 631, with Crook County taking runner-up honors with a 665. La Grande’s Mavric Goss won the district tournament with a 74-73—147, while Dockins finished second with an 82-73—155. The Cowboys’ Ben McLane came in fourth overall with a 162. Crook County next competes at the Class 4A state tournament in Banks on Monday and Tuesday.

Outlaws claim Sky-Em League title

BLUE RIVER — Nate Pajutee led the Outlaws to a Class 4A Sky-Em district victory on the second and final day of play with a combined score of 81-79—160. Sisters won the two-day tournament with 694 strokes, while Cottage Grove finished second with a 756. The Outlaws’ Zach Cummings placed second overall with an 83-87—170. Jaxon Stark, also of Sisters High, finished fifth with a 91-90—181. Drew Smith paced La Pine with an 88-94—182.

GIRLS TENNIS

Panther duo qualifies for 6A state

SALEM — Redmond’s Ashlee Lemos and Monica Johnson defeated teammates Mandy Dollarhide and Jane Wright 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinal round of the Class 6A Central Valley Conference district tournament to earn a spot in Thursday’s semifinals and a berth in next week’s 6A state tournament. The Panthers’ Kendall Marshall fell to Maribel Ocampo of North Salem in the singles quarterfinals, one victory short of advancing to state.

Madras singles player in quarterfinals

PORTLAND — Madras singles player Shani Rehwinkel will play in today’s quarterfinal round of the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2 tournament. Rehwinkel defeated Brooke Nieman of Philomath 6-1, 6-0 in the third round of the tournament to keep her state tournament hopes alive. She plays Ashley Bacon of La Salle today with a state berth on the line.

BOYS TENNIS

Panthers end year at CVC tourney

REDMOND — Host Redmond advanced four entrants to the quarterfinal round of the Central Valley Conference championships, but no Panthers moved on to Thursday’s semifinals. Zach Powell and Carlo Gangan each played quarterfinal singles matches for Redmond, as did the Panthers’ doubles teams of Zach Jackson and Aaron Chriss, and Luke Maxwell and Brent Massey.

Outlaw underclassman fourth

COOS BAY — Sisters sophomore Paul Fullhart finished fourth at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 tournament, earning a spot at next week’s state championship in the process. After winning his quarterfinal matchup on Monday, Fullhart dropped his semifinal contest to Phoenix’s Will Cochrane 6-1, 6-1. He also lost in the third-place match to St. Mary’s Cody Phillips, 6-2, 6-4.

SOFTBALL

Sisters 3

La Pine 1

SISTERS — Starting pitcher Harley Rowe struck out five batters and scattered four hits as the Outlaws claimed the Sky-Em League victory. Rowe and Tiffani Milliman each went two for four at the plate for Sisters (4-10 Sky-Em, 4-11 overall), which plays at Cottage Grove on Thursday.