Sweet Home softball watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 17-7 loss to Marist Catholic, ranked No. 5 in the state, on the road March 21.
The Huskies (1-4) were the first to strike with three runs in the top of the first inning. Adisen Graber singled to score Brooke Burke, and Riley Watkins singled to score Graber and Trinity Victor.
But the Spartans (2-3) were able to match and eclipse Sweet Home’s offensive production, scoring five runs in the first inning and four in the second to take a 9-3 lead.
Sweet Home had another big offensive showing in the third inning, scoring four runs to narrow Marist’s lead to 9-7. Watkins walked in Kelsie Rush, Addy Vannice walked in Graber, Natalie Smith hit a sacrifice fly to score Makayla Guthrie, and Aubrey Newberry singled to score Watkins.
But Sweet Home was unable to cross home plate the rest of the game, and the Spartans added more runs to their tally, scoring five in the fifth inning and three in the sixth.
The seventh inning was not played due to the 10-run rule.
Guthrie was in the circle for the Huskies. The righthander surrendered 12 runs on ten hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking one. Jocelyn Fairchild threw two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen, giving up five runs on five hits, striking out two.
Newberry, Burke, Guthrie, Graber and Watkins each had a hit in the game. But the Spartans outhit the Huskies 15-5. On defense, Sweet Home committed seven errors while Marist only made one.
Sweet Home’s game at Junction City on March 24 was canceled.
The Huskies competed Monday, March 27, in Redmond, losing 7-3 to Crook County, which dropped down into the 4A from the 5A Division this year, and 13-8 to 5A Division Ridgeview.
Against Crook County, Guthrie pitched seven innings, allowing seven runs on ten hits, striking out eight and walking one. Vannice, Rush, Burke, Katriana Harris, and Guthrie each had a hit in the game.
Against Ridgeview Guthrie was again on the rubber, pitching three and two-thirds innings before the game was called in the bottom of the fourth (The New Era was unable to determine why as of press time).
The righthander allowed 13 runs on 10 hits, striking out four. Harris and Rush each had two hits to lead the Huskies.