The Huskies dominated their softball schedule last week, defeating Western Mennonite 8-1 and 6-3 in a doubleheader on the road Saturday, Elmira 2-1 at home on Friday and La Pine 13-0 on the road on Wednesday.
The Huskies are 2-0 in league and 4-1 overall.
Sweet Home 8, Western Mennonite 1
Western Mennonite has a “very good pitcher, who has great movement,” said Coach Steven Hummer. “They were a real challenge for us.”
The Huskies and Western had lost several games to rainouts, Hummer said. Western contacted the Huskies on Friday, and they accepted an offer to play two on Saturday.
Bayli Riggs started in the circle, pitching strongly for 4 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, striking out two and giving up one earned run.
“Bayli did a great job in her first start of the year,” Hummer said. “She controlled Western with her location and off-speed pitches. I was very pleased with her effort.”
Graville got the last out of the fifth as Western had loaded the bases. She pitched a scoreless sixth, and Emili Marchbanks had her first appearance in varsity softball, striking out the side in the seventh to nail down the win.
“Our pitching staff did a great job,” Hummer said. “It’s nice to have so much depth in the circle.”
The Huskies overwhelmed Western on offense with their speed, Hummer said. Sarah Wyatt and Ashley Cochran each had three hits. Wyatt and Hailey Hummer each had two stolen bases.
“We really pressured them with our short game, created lots of opportunities and scored runs with our speed,” Hummer said.
Shelby Gillespie and Riggs added RBI doubles.
“We again played solid defense in the field and picked up a solid win,” Hummer said.
Sweet Home 140 201 0 – 8 9 1
Western 010 000 0 – 1 4 3
Battery
Sweet Home – B. Riggs, Graville (5), Marchbanks (7) and Gillespie
Western – Barr and Simpson
Extra base hits
Sweet Home – Doubles, Cochran, B. Riggs and Gillespie
Sweet Home 6, Western 3
The second game got off to a slow start as Western jumped on the Huskies for a 3-0 lead after two innings.
Western collected six hits in the first inning, but as Graville settled down, her off-speed pitches kept Western off balance the rest of the way, Hummer said.
The offense was led by Bayli Riggs with three hits, a double and two RBI. Emili Riggs added three hits and a double as well. Rubidoux and Cochran also added two hits and the Huskies stole three more bases.
“We had to show some toughness in game two as we got behind,” Hummer said. “Our kids worked very hard, making adjustments against Barr. She really has some great movement pitches, and it forced our kids to hit the ball to opposite field.
“In game one she struck us out 12 times, but in game two we only struck out five times – and we collected 12 hits. They adjusted to our short game so we had to do it more of the old-fashioned way. The kids responded and hit the ball well.”
The Huskies again played great defense, highlighted by Hailey Rice throwing out a runner at home from left field, and Megan Rubidoux making a great play on an attempted stolen base at second, Hummer said. “The kids are really playing great defense. We are running the bases very aggressively, putting the bat on the ball and competing. Our pitching continues to improve and the kids are really coming together as a team.”
Sweet Home 001 031 1 – 6 12 1
Western 120 000 0 – 3 8 2
Battery
Sweet Home – Graville and Gillespie
Western – Barr and Knieling
Extra Base Hits
Sweet Home – B. Riggs
Western – Doubles, Rausch,
Sweet Home 13, La Pine 0
Following a rain-shortened preseason, the Huskies opened their 2011 Sky-Em softball schedule at La Pine.
The Huskies were rained out of seven of eight scheduled preseason games, losing their opener 7-0 to Regis on March 17.
The Huskies did not allow the wet spring and the long layoff to slow them down however, defeating La Pine 13-0, Hummer said. Megan Graville and Bayli Riggs combined for a two-hit shutout; and the offensive attack was led by Cochran, 2-4, Wyatt, 3-4, Virtue, 2-3, and Hummer, 2-2.
“The Huskies took control of the game early with a combination of speed and power and never looked back,” Hummer said. They collected six stolen bases and two doubles.
Sweet Home 330 34x x – 13 14 1
La Pine 000 00x x – 0 2 3
Battery
Sweet Home – Graville, B. Riggs (4) and Gillespie
La Pine – Owen and Miller
Extra base hits
Sweet Home – Doubles, E. Riggs, Virtue
La Pine – Doubles, Parrish
Sweet Home 2, Elmira 1
In a game that pitted the two preseason favorites to win the Sky Em championship, the Huskies came out on top 2-1.
Husky Freshman Katie Virtue went 1-3 and scored both Husky runs, Hummer said. “The game was a pitching duel between Boytz and Graville, and neither of them blinked.”
Graville, 2-1, struck out eight, walked one and gave up one run in the game, a home run to Boytz in the seventh.
“Megan pitched a great game, had real command of the strike zone and spotted her pitches very well,” Hummer said. “Bayli Riggs was called on in the top of the seventh to get the last two outs for the save. Bayli did a great job. Coming into the game in the seventh is a tough situation, but her senior leadership and mental toughness shined as the Huskies recorded the last two outs on a double play.”
A lot of softball games are not won; they are lost by a mistake, Hummer said. “Many times, the team that makes a mental mistake or a fielding miscue loses the game. Elmira made one more error than we did. That error resulted in a first-inning run.”
In the third, Virtue singled, stole second and reached third on an error. She scored on a wild pitch, leaving the Huskies with all the runs they needed.
“The Huskies played great defense and showed a lot of mental toughness,” Hummer said. “The girls just refused to break, played great defense and made play after play.”
Elmira 000 000 1 – 1 5 3
Sweet Home 101 000 x – 2 5 2
Battery
Elmira – Boytz and Thoms
Sweet Home – Gravile, Riggs (7) and Gillespie
Extra Base Hits
Elmira – Homerun, Boytz
Sweet Home – Triple, Graville