Fall sports are well under way at Lebanon and East Linn Christian high schools, with most teams starting their league seasons.
Lebanon football was 1-1 as Lebanon Local went to press. The Warriors beat McKay 41-39 to open their regular season, which will consist entirely of Mid-Willamette conference opponents, followed by a 22-16 loss to now-fifth-ranked West Albany at home. The league has some heavy hitters; Silverton was ranked No. 2 after the second week of the season and South Albany was No. 4.
Lebanon’s volleyball team is off to a slow start, winless as Lebanon Local went to press. The Warriors dropped league games against Central and Silverton (ranked third) in Mid-Willamette Conference action.
Across town, East Linn Christian opened its league season with a 3-0 win at Central Linn after three straight non-league losses, at Blanchet (0-3) and Santiam (0-3) and a home versus Jefferson (3-2).
On the soccer field, Lebanon lost its first three games, 8-0 to McMinnville in its season-opener at home, and 4-1 to Nelson, and 5-3 to Barlow at home Wednesday, Sept. 14.
The Warriors start their league season, in which they play each MWC team once, Sept. 27 at Central.
East Linn, whose 27-player roster includes three girls, started its season 0-2-1 after a 2-2 tie at home against Western Christian, a 0-4 loss at Blanchet and a 2-0 loss at 4A Division Sweet Home.
On the girls side, the Warriors started their season facing three straight 6A teams, tying Glencoe 1-1 after opening its season with an 8-0 home loss to South Salem. The Warriors then dropped a 2-1 decision at Franklin on Sept. 6 before returning home to face North Eugene on Sept. 15.
Lebanon’s girls start their league season Sept. 27 against Central and will play each MWC team once.
In cross-country, the Warriors started their season Sept. 10 at the Ash Creek XC Festival at Western Oregon, competing in the JV 5000 race.
Freshman David Brandt was Lebanon’s top finisher at Ash Creek, running 19:48 to finish 42nd out of 303 runners .
Next up for the harriers was the MWC XC Championship Preview Meet held Sept. 21 (after Lebanon Local’s deadline) at Willamette Mission State Park in Brooks.
Across town, East Linn’s Daisy Lalonde continues to dominate the small-school divisions as a sophomore cross-country runner, finishing first at the Darrel Deedon Invite at Cascade on Sept. 1, then following that up with a seventh-place finish at Ash Creek, with a 19:15, the top non-6A or 5A finisher in the girls race.
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