MADRAS — After a relatively slow start to the baseball season, Crook County is picking up steam as it heads into Tri-Valley Conference play next week.

Highlighted by Brody Connell’s home run, the Cowboys piled up the hits against Seaside on Saturday, helping them claim an 11-1 victory and the Madras Tournament championship.

“We’re coming back around,” said Cowboys coach Frank Martinez. “It’s nice to take that tournament. We haven’t done something like that in a long time.”

Josh Norris tripled for Crook County (4-3 overall), which won its third straight after losing three of its first four games of the season. Dustin Williams and Devin Wilson each had a double for the Cowboys.

Crook County begins conference play Friday at Estacada. The Cowboys roll into TVC action after scoring 48 runs in three games at the Madras Tournament while limiting opponents to 10 runs.

“We hit the ball hard and had no errors,” Martinez said of Saturday’s win. “That’s big for our confidence.”

Also Saturday:

Baseball

Taft 15, Madras 12: MADRAS — The White Buffaloes stayed in the Madras Tournament game despite playing without six regular starters who are serving a five-game suspension, according to Madras coach Sam McCormick. Trailing 11-3 after three innings, the White Buffaloes (4-3) rallied to take a 12-11 lead with nine runs in the fourth, all of which scored after two outs. Taft answered with four runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead. Seth Colton and Nathan Stout had two-run singles in the Buffs’ big inning. Also for Madras, Liam White had three hits and Kody Zemke had two.