The Tigard Barbers are state champions again.
Head coach Joe Duran's squad defeated the Medford Mustangs 4-2 in nine innings July 30 at Harry & David Field in Medford to claim the American Legion AAA Oregon state title.
It's the third championship in four years for the program sponsored by Tigard American Legion Post 158, following titles in 2023 and 2025.
Gabriel Coltman, a 2025 Sunset High School graduate, went 4-for-4 at the plate and was named tournament MVP. His towering double to the right-center warning track led off the ninth inning. Consecutive singles by Ben Foglio and Hemsley plated the go-ahead run, and Nolan Foglio added an RBI single to make it 4-2.
On the mound, Ben Foglio dominated. The Clackamas High School standout, committed to the University of Washington, pitched 7⅔ innings with eight strikeouts and just one walk, holding Medford to two runs on seven hits.
The Barbers finished the season 34-5-1 as Area 2 champions. Their roster draws players from Sunset, Aloha, Tigard, Tualatin, and Scappoose high schools, splitting practice time between Joe Etzel Field and Tigard High School.
Medford manager John King praised the Barbers after the game. "Credit to them, that's a really good team," King told Your Oregon News. "They competed well every game in this tournament."
The game stayed tight through seven regulation innings. Tigard scored twice in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead, with Cal Grandwahl delivering the go-ahead hit that found grass just beyond the second baseman's range.
Medford answered in the fifth when Freeman Rountree doubled and scored on a two-out single by Cade Pettersen to knot it at 2-2, where it stayed until the ninth.
The Barbers' run of dominance is remarkable. Established in 2010, the program has compiled a .722 winning percentage over its history with twelve Zone-2 league titles. Last year, the team won the state title, captured the Northwest Regional in Montana, and advanced to the American Legion World Series national semifinals.
Both Tigard and Medford have already clinched spots in the Northwest Regionals, scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, through Sunday, August 9, in Medford. The Barbers will look to repeat last year's regional run and punch another ticket to the World Series.
What's next
- Northwest Regionals: Wednesday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 9, at Harry & David Field in Medford
- Who advances: The regional winner earns a spot in the American Legion World Series
