Murrayhill Little League avenged an earlier defeat by sweeping Pendleton Little League in the championship series of the 2004 Oregon state tournament in Gresham.

Pendleton had defeated Murrayhill 4-1 in the winner's bracket finals, but the Beaverton-based team rebounded with three consecutive wins, including 6-2 and 9-2 victories over Pendleton in the finals. Matt Moshofsky was the winning pitcher in the clincher, striking out seven and throwing a complete game on a scorching, 102-degree afternoon.

Murrayhill won its second consecutive state championship, and advanced to the Northwest Region tournament in San Bernardino, California. Murrayhill's seven titles in the major baseball division are the most by any Oregon league since the first state tournament was held in 1959.

"Pendleton was a really tough team," said Murrayhill manager Dan Love after the tournament. "But we kept telling the kids that it would be tough to beat us twice."

Pendleton managed the feat once, upending the District 4 champions in the teams' first meeting. Ryan Hamilton laced a solo home run over the center field fence in the third inning that put Pendleton in front 2-1, and the Umatilla County team held on for the win. Pendleton pitcher Kyle Mecham struck out twelve in a complete game effort, including the final batters in the third and fourth innings when Murrayhill stranded the potential tying run at third base.

"Murrayhill has that aura about them that gives them an edge before the teams even get on the field," said Pendleton manager Doug Hamilton after the game. "But our kids came out confident tonight."

Pendleton stretched their lead in the sixth, when Travis Jones and Hartley scored on Wyatt Whitten's double.

"We needed a few more runs to give us some breathing room and help us relax," said Doug Hamilton.

Murrayhill earned another shot at Pendleton, eliminating Medford American Little League's Blue team in an 8-2 decision. The defending state champions then combined big innings with solid pitching to avenge their earlier defeat with a pair of wins.

Murrayhill trailed early in each of the championship series games before rallying to victory. In the first game, Pendleton took an early lead when Josh Ernst scored on a passed ball, but Moshofsky's two-run double in the bottom of the second pushed his team in front. After Shannon Hartley's home run tied the game, Murrayhill pieced together a three-run rally in the fourth to take the lead for good. Jake Keudell and Connor Love drew bases-loaded walks to snap the tie, and Murrayhill later added an insurance run on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the fifth. Keudell struck out seven and was the winning pitcher for Murrayhill.

The next day, Spencer Ross hit a three-run homer in the third inning to overcome an early Pendleton lead and put Murrayhill in front for good. Hartley narrowed Murrayhill's lead to 4-2 with a fourth inning solo home run over the scoreboard in left, but Murrayhill iced the win by scoring five runs with two outs in the fifth. James Ford delivered the big blow, tripling to center field with the bases loaded after Pendleton issued three walks.

"Their pitcher was throwing hard," said Dan Love. "But we were hitting him. We have a lot of confidence in our hitting."

Murrayhill shortstop Andy Michaud had a pair of hits in the final game, including a double. Hartley led Pendleton's hitting with a pair of hits including his home run.

"It didn't end the way we wanted it, but we're really proud of this team," said Doug Hamilton of his Pendleton squad. "Finishing second in the state is still pretty darned good."

Murrayhill split its four pool games at the Northwest Region tournament, and reached the semifinal round before dropping a ten inning, 10-7 decision to West Valley Little League from Eagle, Idaho.