Lady Outlaws go 2-1 in softball action

Sam Stoneback pitched a one-hitter and recorded her first career shutout in the Lady Outlaws 9-0 win over La Pine on Monday, April 16. Stoneback struck out 11 batters and walked only one. This marked the fifth time this season Stoneback has struck out more than 10 batters in a game.

The game marked the second shutout of the season for the Outlaws and the second one-hitter. Sophomore Hillary Renz pitched a one-hitter against Astoria over spring break.

Sisters scored four runs in the third, three in the fourth and two in the sixth against La Pine. The third inning was highlighted by hits from Jenna Sneva and Jenny Kaiser. Sisters also stole three bases in the third. Sneva singled and JJ Ashley tripled to highlight the Lady Outlaws' fourth inning rally. In the sixth Sisters scored due to a Sneva single, a double from Ashley and a single from Stoneback.

Sneva finished the game with four base hits. Ashley doubled and tripled, and Stoneback and Kaiser each had base hits.

"The team looked real good in all facets of the game - offense, defense, base running and pitching," said Coach Tom Mauldin. "The team continues to improve, and I feel we're right on track. One real key to the win today was that we played errorless ball. It was the first time this season we were error free."

The Lady Outlaws notched an 8-5 win over Junction City (JC) at home two days later and moved Sisters into second place in the Sky-Em League standings. This marked the first time in school history a softball team has ranked that high.

Sisters scored twice in the first inning with key hits from Sneva, Ashley and Courtney Overstreet. The Lady Outlaws added four runs in the third off a double from Becky Bremer, singles from Overstreet and Ashley Huber and a sacrifice fly by Brenna Mooney.

After four innings of play the Outlaws held a comfortable 6-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Sisters committed five fielding errors and two mental errors which allowed the Tigers back in the game. JC scored four runs and closed the Outlaw lead to 6-4.

Overstreet and Stoneback both had hits to highlight the sixth inning for Sisters. The insurance runs pushed the Outlaws to an 8-4 lead.

JC scored their final run in the top of the seventh, and the game ended in an 8-5 victory for Sisters.

"We won in a game I call winning ugly because we committed 10 errors," said Coach Mauldin. "This was only one game after committing no errors in our win over La Pine.

On the positive side Mauldin told The Nugget his team did have a few sterling defensive plays, and he noted one in particular.

"Jenna (Sneva) was impressive at shortstop and made a sensational catch in the seventh inning to help protect our lead," said Mauldin.

Overstreet continues to be impressive at the plate and collected three singles and drove in three runs. Becky Bremer had a double, and singles came from Sneva, Kaiser, Stoneback, Ashley, Mooney and Ashley Huber.

Mauldin told The Nugget it was nice to see the bats working from the top to the bottom of the batting order.

"In all, eight players had base hits. The only (one) who didn't record a hit was Hillary (Renz), but she walked two times and was hit by pitchers twice to be on base four times," said Mauldin.

"Defensively, we still need a lot of work, but I'm impressed with the way the girls are battling," added Mauldin. "We know it's going to be a dogfight in this league, but we're putting some bite in our bark."

Pitcher Sam Stoneback told The Nugget that it feels great to be in second place in the league standings.

"We're on a great winning streak," said Stoneback, "and I hope it continues. Our errors are dropping each game, and when I'm on the mound I have confidence in my defense. We all look forward to each game

and give it everything we have."

After flying high and enjoying a few wins the Lady

Outlaws suffered a 1-3 loss to previously winless Cottage Grove (CG) on Friday,

April 20.

Courtney Overstreet drove in Sisters' lone run of the game in the fourth inning, and Sisters held a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning. In the sixth the Outlaws committed two errors and allowed Cottage Grove to score two times with two outs. CG also scored a run in the seventh on an error.

The Lady Outlaws will travel to Eugene on Thursday, April 26 and take on No. 1 ranked Marist.