Lady Outlaws drop to Crook County

Playing with heavy hearts, the Sisters High School varsity softball team lost to visiting Crook County High School, 11-3, on March 12.

The Lady Outlaws, playing only hours after learning that head coach Tom Mauldin's mother passed away, gave a determined effort against their 5A foe. The girls cheered "Maggie" as part of their pre-game warmup and honored Margaret Mauldin with an "M" behind home plate.

"What can you say about girls like this. They helped me get through this," said the coach, who remarked that he opted to play the contest as his mother had been at many ball fields supporting her sons and her husband, a former professional baseball player. "Seemed like the right place to be, and the girls supported it. I'm sure it was harder on them than I realized."

Not only did the girls support it, they almost pulled off the win. They trailed 4-3 with two-out in the sixth before the Cowgirls scored twice. The Cowgirls added five runs in the seventh.

"Despite their want, it's understandable we had a few mental miscues," said the coach. "I know that on any other day, we beat them."

Sam Stoneback pitched six innings and struck out eight, and she also singled in two runs. Camille Pedersen and JJ Ashley each had two base hits, plus doubles for the Lady Outlaws. And Jenna Sneva added a single, played excellent defense and was a highlight reel on the bases. But while the top half of the batting order produced six hits and three runs, the bottom half took the collar and combined for six strike outs.

"The effort was what counted," said Coach Mauldin. "Considering the heavy hearts, I couldn't be prouder. It was a lesson in life; ... life goes on, life cycles. We continue, and we share in our comforts. The score was unimportant."

The Outlaw junior varsity squad hit well and turned in some impressive defensive plays but lost to Crook County's Junior Varsity, 12-8.

The Lady Outlaws, 1-1, were scheduled to play a doubleheader at Burns on March 15, but inclement weather postponed the non-league outing until mid-April. Up next for the Sisters High team is a non-league game March 18 at SHS, hosting Summit High of Bend, then traveling to Bend for a doubleheader on March 19. The Lady Outlaws will host La Pine March 22 in a pair of games starting at noon.