Lady Outlaws' bats come alive

Collecting a school record of 25 base hits, Sisters High School varsity softball team routed Elmira in a Sky-Em League softball game on April 25.

With McKenzie Cooper going four-for-four and five teammates collecting three base hits apiece, the Lady Outlaws defeated the host Falcons, 15-6. In addition to three hits each by Jenna Sneva, Camille Pedersen, Hillary Renz, Ashley Huber and Jenny Kaiser, the Outlaws got two each from Cassie Hernandez and Sam Stoneback. Hernandez and Renz had the only extra base hits, each collecting a run-scoring double.

The Outlaws scored in every inning, managing one in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, three in the second, two in the third and six in the seventh.

"It was about as complete a team win you could get," said coach Tom Mauldin. "Cassie Huber had a key sacrifice bunt that got us started in the second and lead to three runs. Our short game put a lot of pressure on them."

The Outlaws managed seven bunt base hits and executed four perfect sacrifice bunts.

While the offense did its thing, Renz pitched the first four innings to pick up the win, while Stoneback, battling illness, worked the last three. When the senior righthander was relieved in the fifth, the score was 7-4. Combined, the two Outlaw pitchers scattered seven hits and struck out six.

"It was a gutsy effort by both pitchers," said the coach. "Hill hadn't thrown in about two weeks, and Sam was ill."

It was such an offensive effort that freshman Marisa Calavan scored two runs in the seventh inning. The Outlaws had several outstanding defensive plays led by outfielders Kaiser, Brenna Mooney and Huber.

Prior to the win over Elmira, the Outlaws lost to No. 1-ranked Marist, 18-0, in a game dominated by freshman standout Nyree White. The New Zealander limited the locals to singles by Pedersen and Calavan. She recorded a dozen strikeouts in the five-inning game.

The split leaves SHS with a 5-3 Sky-Em League record with games April 28, at Pleasant Hill and May 2, at La Pine. The Outlaws will close out the Sky-Em League home season May 8 hosting Cottage Grove. They host Junction City (6-2) May 6.