KEIZER — When you get to put on your cap and gown and graduate at home plate, you know you’ve had a good season.

The Pendleton baseball team enjoyed that moment Saturday, June 3, at Volcano Stadium, but it came after a 12-2 loss to Scappoose in the 4A state championship game.

“The boys made a lot of plays to get there,” Pendleton coach TJ Haguewood said. “It’s an accomplishment to get there, but we wanted more than getting there. We will work hard next year to get back there.”

The Bucks saw 11 seniors pick up their diplomas at home plate. Pendleton was the top 4A academic baseball team with a cumulative GPA of 3.69.

“They wanted to graduate at home plate,” Haguewood said. “They saw that in 2019 and they wanted to do it themselves. It’s nice to see them in their gowns on the baseball field. Not many people in the state get to do that. I get teary eyed talking about it. It would have been better if we had won.”

June 3 was the sixth time the Bucks played for a state title. They are 0-6. They played for their first title in 1963, losing a 5-0 game to Madison. The last time they reached the title game was 2019 at the 5A level. They lost to Central 11-4.

“It takes a lot to get there,” Haguewood said. “We want to win a championship at Pendleton.”

Pendleton (22-9) and top-ranked Scappoose (27-2) played two scoreless innings to open the June 3 game, with starter Jack Lieuallen striking out three, and the Bucks turned a double play to end the second inning.

In the top of the third, Pendleton went to work.

Payton Lambert led off the inning with a double, then scored on an Andrew Demianew triple to center field. Dylan Gomez followed with a single up the middle to send Demianew across the plate.

That would be the end of the scoring as Chas Corbett flew out to the left fielder, and Clayson Cooley grounded out.

The Bucks were held scoreless in the top of the fourth, and held a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Grayson Grover led off for the Indians, reaching base on an error. He later scored on a wild pitch to put Scappoose on the board.

Pendleton had one runner each base in the top of the fifth, and still had its 2-1 lead as the Indians went to bat.

Wyatt Anicker grounded out, and Leland Boswell struck out, then the wheels fell off the cart for the Bucks.

Trey Fuller drew a walk, Quinton Olson singled, and Joe Fagan walked to load the bases. A single to right field by Grover put two runs across the plate, and Lieuallen was done on the mound.

Evan Lenhart came on in relief, and promptly walked Chase Olson to load the bases. Max Nowlin hit a single to center field to put two more runs on the board before the Bucks got out of the inning with a 5-2 deficit.

“Tip your hat to Scappoose, they put some pressure on us,” Haguewood said. “They got a couple of walks, an error, a bloop over our first baseman’s head. They got a hit when they needed to.”

After another scoreless inning for the Bucks, the Indians hung seven runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule.

“Evan’s struggles were magnified,” Haguewood said of his pitcher. “They didn’t really hit him. There was an error behind him, and balls that found holes. He’s a good one. He is one of our go-to guys. He will be called upon to throw a lot of innings next year. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

For the Bucks, Demianew went 2-for-3 and was named the Moda Health Player of the Game for Pendleton.

The game was the last for Haguewood as head coach. He is stepping away to spend more time with his young family.

In his eight years at the helm, Haguewood compiled a 112-70 record and took the Bucks to the playoffs four times, including two state title games. There were no playoff games in 2020-21.

“It has been a good run,” he said. “The program has a lot of good players coming up. The program will be in good hands.”

Haguewood will coach one last time — at the 4A All-Star Series on June 17-18 at North Marion High School in Aurora. He will have Lambert, Demianew, Corbett and Lieuallen on his team.