While spring break means downtime for some, for the softball team, it meant grind-time.
The week started off with a trip to Bend where the girls played four games in the span of two days. They faced Ridgeview and Bend on Monday, both resulting in losses. The Pirates came back with a 12-4 win over
Ashland, but ended Tuesday with another loss against Bend.
Head coach Brooke Toy said while the trip to Bend is generally a fun time, it provided difficult competition for the team and gave them an opportunity to grow.
“We had a tough time; we played some good teams,” Toy said. “Whether or not we were winning or losing … we definitely came together more as a team.”
Starting pitcher Mackenzie Johnson has been out for a week due to a shoulder injury and will return next week. Paige Tavernier usually shares responsibility with Johnson, but is currently unable to play because her wisdom teeth were recently removed. This left sophomore Katie Sharp; she got her first taste of varsity pitching this week and completed her second full game of pitching today against Cottage Grove.
“We call her our secret weapon,” Toy said. “She’s got that speed where the batters don’t really know what to do.”
The game started slow as the Lions took the lead, but it soon turned around.
Savannah Williams got a run in the second from a hit off Carli Clarkson. The Pirates didn’t score again until the fourth when Williams had an RBI to get Khalani Hoyer home. The Lions had four runs by the fifth inning.
Down 4-2, Jessica Kohl hit a double in the bottom of the fifth inning and advanced to third base with a bunt from Sidney Baarstad. A base hit from Katelyn Rossback brought Kohl home. Sarah Allison pitched in her own double to get Rossback home, and another double from Hoyer brought Allison in, and taking the lead 5-4, which would also be the final score.
Although Sharp has little experience pitching at the varsity level, only one player was walked. According to Toy, Sharp has a straightforward mindset to get the ball over the plate and let the team back her up on defense, which is all the team needs in the time being. Sharp enjoys the playing time, but looks forward to Johnson’s return.
“They know I’m not super experienced so they’re all nice and supportive about it,” Sharp said.
