LA GRANDE — In a showdown between the leading teams of the 4A Greater Oregon League, La Grande hometown baseball fans had little to cheer as Pendleton/Nixyaawii grabbed two league victories over the Tigers on Tuesday, May 7, in La Grande.

The home fans had much to cheer early in game one as La Grande led 5-4. The Bucs rallied with five runs in the seventh inning to claim a 9-5 victory.

Game two saw Pendleton take a 5-2 victory.

In a sign of action beyond the game, the Pendleton/Nixyaawii players arrived and wore blue arm bands and decals on their batting helmets to show support for Cade McKinley, who continues to receive treatment in a Portland hospital after a cancer diagnosis. The Buckaroos announced the team will continue to wear the “McKinley Strong 25” insignia for the remainder of the season.

La Grande (11-7 overall, 7-3 4A Greater Oregon League) drops into second in the league standings with the losses. The Tigers will have the opportunity to repay the Buckaroos as La Grande travels to Pendleton on Friday, May 10 for two games.