The North Coos Waterfront captured the top seed for the A-level American Legion state tournament in Portland by beating North Medford 5-4 on Sunday.

North Coos will face La Salle in the first round of the state tournament at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Sunset High School.

The Waterfront scored twice in the top of the seventh to rally for the win Sunday.

Alex Clark led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Gatlon Giorgis. Jesse McClintock then singles and Neal Vaught had an RBI single to left. After Bruce Ohlrich reached on an error, Bryce Weidman brought in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.

The win was typical for the attitude the North Coos players have had on the field, coach Brad Horning said.

“The kids kind of have a belief that they're never really out of it until the thing's over,” he said. “They scrap to find ways to get runners on and score runs.”

North Coos scored in the third inning when Adam Opoien walked, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a single by Giorgis. In the fifth, Ohlrich doubled and Skyler Walton and Opoien hit back-to-back singles.

Weidman, who came on in relief of McClintock, picked up the victory for North Coos.

The game brought back memories of North Bend's playoff loss to eventual state champion La Grande during the high school two months ago.

“This game was a lot like the game we played at La Grande and lost - a see-saw ballgame - and we came out on top,” he said.

North Medford's roster included several players from the Class 6A state champion squad. The Mavericks also had played many more games than the waterfront, entering the contest with a 40-8 record.

“They've won as many games as we played,” Horning said.

An extra treat was a trophy presentation after the final out.

“We didn't really realize that there was a trophy involved in the game yesterday,” Horning said. “We were going don to play a baseball game and play sharp. And we were handed a trophy afterward, that was neat.”

Now the players are looking forward to the double-elimination, eight-team tournament in Portland.

“The kids are loose and having fun and playing together,” Horning said. “They're excited (and) looking for some more days together.”

The players will take today off and practice Tuesday.

In the other Area 4 game, Ashland beat Roseburg Pepsi 6-3 to take Area 4's third spot in the state tournament.

North Coos 5, North Medford 4

North Coos 001 200 2 - 5 8 1

North Medford 110 200 0 - 4 9 1

Jesse McClintock, Bryce Weidman (4) and Gatlon Giorgis; Cory Nelson, Dylan Bedortha (4) and Collin Sowers. 2B-NC: Bruce Ohlrich; NM: Blake Mitchell.