THERE'S JUST ONE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL TEAM FROM THE HIGH DESERT LEFT STANDING IN THE OSAA PREP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS, AND THEY ARE THE 2ND-RANKED LADY LAVA BEARS OF BEND HIGH SOFTBALL TEAM.

TODAY AT 4, BEND, 29-AND-1, PLAYS HOST TO #3 OREGON CITY IN THE 'CLASS 6A' SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS, AND A WIN BY THE LAVA BEARS WILL PUT THEM IN SATURDAY'S TITLE GAME AT OREGON STATE AGAINST THE WINNER OF TOP-RANKED TIGARD, AND MCNARY.

BEND DEFEATED MCMINNVILLE FRIDAY IN THE QUARTERFINALS, 13-3, AND HAVE OUTSCORE THEIR PLAYOFF OPPONENTS, 33-TO-5 HEADING IN TO TODAY'S GAME.

THE LAVA BEARS HAVE NEVER PLAYED FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. ONLY RIDGEVIEW AND CROOK COUNTY HAVE MADE IT TO THE TITLE GAME, AND THAT IN THE LAST 5-YEARS, AND THE RAVENS WON IT ALL IN 2019, BUT WERE BLANKED BY LEBANON, 10-ZIP FRIDAY IN THE '5A QUARTERFINALS.'