Cascade 6
Sweet Home 4
The Cascade Cougars fended off a four-run fourth-inning attack from the Husky softball squad to win 6-4 Thursday in Sweet Home.
Cascade scored runs in the first, third and fourth innings to build a 3-0 lead. The Huskies erased that lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“We had a great inning in the fourth,” Coach Rob Younger said. “Makenzie (Marchbanks) led off with a single. Dani Thireault singled to advance Makenzie to second. Winslow and Cait Thireault had singles to move people along.”
Winslow and C. Thireault both had one RBI each. Michelle Cliver knocked two more runs in on a single.
Total, the Huskies put five hits together on the inning to take a 4-3 lead.
“That’s one thing we’re going to be working on,” Coach Younger said. “We need to start grouping our hits a little bit to increase our run production.”
The Cougars tied the game in the fifth and scored two more runs in the sixth to seal their win.
Cascade is ranked third in the state right now, Coach Younger said. “I thought we competed well against them. It’s nice to know you can go out and play a team of that caliber and you have a chance to win.”
The Huskies made mistakes, but those can be corrected, Coach Younger said.
On the mound, Marchbanks struck out eight batters, walked two and gave up six hits.
Take away the team’s four errors, Coach Younger said, and the Huskies would be in good shape.
Cascade 1011 120 6 6 0
Sweet Home 0004 000 4 6 4
Sisters 4
Sweet Home 2
The Huskies lost 4-2 at Sisters Friday afternoon.
“This was one of those games where we didn’t play very well,” Coach Younger said. Offensively, the Huskies never got their bats going, hitting the ball four times.
Defensively, the Huskies gave up a four-run inning in the fourth allowing Sisters the first runs of the game.
The Huskies scored two runs in the sixth inning when Nicki Aerni hit a two-run double scoring Sara Brocard and Idahna Huenergardt.
Brocard walked to reach base. Huenergardt singled.
Ashley Wall and Michelle Cliver also came up with hits.
Marchbanks competed well her second day in a row pitching, Coach Younger said. She wasn’t overpowering, but she competed well. She struck out two batters, walked none and gave up five hits.
“Our whole idea is it’s a long season,” Coach Younger said. “We just want to get better each game.”
After waiting out constant rain, the Huskies came out and competed with one of the top teams in the state, Coach Younger said. They took a step backward on Friday, “but that’s how you get better.”
The Huskies will spend the week on the road. They were scheduled to play Molalla Tuesday, Stayton on Thursday and Marist on Saturday.
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Sisters 0004 000 4 5 2