The Huskies went 2-1 last week on the softball diamond, with wins over Stayton and Sisters coming after a loss to Newport early in the week.
Against Newport, Sweet Home jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Bailee Hartsook singled to score Maddie Harris and Savannah Hutchins.
In the second inning, Harris hit a ground ball and reached on an error, scoring Mikayla Guthrie. Harris would score later in the inning on a passed ball to bring the Huskies lead over the Cubs to 4-0.
But Newport rallied in the top of the third, scoring four runs to tie the game at 4-4.
The Cubs tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to go up 9-4. The Huskies would only score again in the bottom of the seventh, when a Chloe Fairchild double scored Harris. The final score was 9-5 Newport.
“We did not hit as well as we could have,” said Head Coach Karyn Hartsook. “I think some execution offensively would have changed that game. And cleaning up the errors defensively.”
Hutchins pitched three innings and Harris pitched four for the Huskies.
After the home loss, the girls traveled to Stayton and bounced back by earning an 8-7 win.
“It was a great testament to the kids not quitting,” Hartsook said. “We came out strong. We had a couple innings where we struggled, but then the girls finished strong.”
“We did some things offensively that were outstanding,” Hartsook said. “I’m so proud of their improvement and that they’re continuing to grow athletically on the softball field.”
The game went to extra innings, knotted at 7-7 after seven innings. The go-ahead run for Sweet Home in the eighth was scored when Fairchild executed what Coach Hartsook called “an outstanding bunt” to score B. Hartsook.
Hutchins went the distance on the mound for the Huskies, striking out 10 batters, with 6 of them put away looking.
“She had a great day on the mound and provided athletic leadership on the field with her play and desire to win,” Hartsook said.
B. Hartsook had a good day at the plate and was a home run away from a cycle. She went 3-4 with a single, double and triple and 2 RBI’s. She also was an active baserunner, stealing three bags.
Sophomore Brooke Burke went 2-4 with two singles and 1 RBI.
Junior Mykal Johnston executed defensively at second base with 100% fielding percentage.
“It was a great win for Sweet Home Softball at the Eagles home field,” Hartsook said. “The desire by the entire team to execute plays along with aggressive baserunning helped us prevail against the home team.”
Sweet Home finished the week off with another win, this one more convincing, beating Sisters 11-1 back at their home field.
Sisters scored first in the contest, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first that wouldn’t hold for long.
When it was Sweet Home’s turn to bat in the first, a Fairchild groundout scored Burke. Later in the inning, Hutchins scored on a wild pitch to put Sweet Home up 2-1, with a lead they would not relinquish.
The big inning for the Huskies came in the third, when they scored 7 runs to go up 9-1 on the Outlaws.
Guthrie was hit by a pitch, scoring Hutchins. Then Adisen Graber grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Fairchild.
Guthrie would later score herself on a Kelsie Rush walk, followed by a Harris walk that scored another runner. Another run scored when Burke was walked
Hutchins grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Rush and putting her team up 8-1.
Burke would score one more run on a wild pitch before the Outlaws were finally able to get out of the third inning.
Sweet Home later scored two more runs, and the game was called after 5 innings due to the 10-run rule.
Savannah Hutchins pitched the whole game, striking out 7 girls and giving up just 2 hits.
“That was the best I’ve ever seen in eight years of Sisters softball,” said Hartsook. “That was fun for them to be able to compete a little bit.”
“I’m proud of kids for stepping up and making adjustments offensively. Savannah Hutchins pitched a great game. It was good to have her be on and do a great job in the circle.”
In practice, Hartsook said “We’re really focusing on getting our fundamentals strong and being consistent with our play. And we’re working on mental toughness.”
The Huskies have a pair of road matchups this week, playing at Cascade on Wednesday and at Woodburn on Thursday.