Lady Outlaws win five straight

The Sisters High School varsity softball squad ran its win streak to five games before losing the second game of a non-conference double-header at Sweet Home on April 11.

The Lady Outlaws won the first game against Sweet Home 7-2 before losing the second game, 10-9 with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Prior to the non-league twinbill, the Lady Outlaws recorded a pair of Sky-Em League wins, defeating La Pine, 9-7, and Junction City, 7-1. The two league wins tie the locals with No. 1-ranked Marist. Each team is 2-0. Overall, Sisters High is 8-7.

"We keep working our way up our work-in-progress ladder," said coach Tom Mauldin. "We're doing a lot of things right as our level of play and confidences rises."

One of those doing a lot right is senior infielder Jenna Sneva, who collected nine straight hits, scored six runs and stole five bases in the non-league double-header. And she was a highlight reel on defense.

Sneva had four hits in the 7-2 win over Sweet Home and scored three times. In the second game loss, she was five for five.

Others collecting multiple hits on the day were Cassie Hernandez, Marisa Calavan, Hillary Renz and M.J. Schulte. Zoe Wavrin picked up the win in the first game, allowing only three hits and striking out 10 in six innings. She walked six. McKenzie Cooper made her varsity pitching debut in the second game, going four strong innings and leaving with a 7-3 lead.

"We were real pleased with Cooper's effort. I wish we could have protected the lead for her, but Sweet Home hits the ball well," said Coach Mauldin. "We're going to need Cooper down the stretch. It takes a lot of team components to be competitive."

The Outlaws beat Junction City April 10 with Wavrin picking up the win in relief of Renz, who went the first three innings.

"It was probably our best game of the season," said Mauldin. "Eight different players had base hits and, defensively and offensively, we looked good. The team continues to improve."

Wavrin also drove in two runs, as did Schulte. Calavan and Jenny Kaiser had two hits and Kaiser stole three bases.

In the league opener April 7, the Outlaws held on to beat La Pine 9-7. The locals led 9-1 going into the sixth inning, but four untimely errors and seven La Pine base hits in the last two innings changed the outlook of the game. With runners on second and third and no outs in the bottom of the seventh, Kaiser made a game-saving shoestring catch and doubled the Hawk runner off second base.

"No doubt, our defensive play of the season," said Mauldin. "She doesn't make that catch and we likely lose."

Hernandez and Kaiser led the offense against La Pine with two hits apiece.

The Outlaws traveled to Eugene on April 14 to play No. 1-ranked Marist, winners of 39 straight games and nationally ranked by USA Today. The locals will host Pleasant Hill, April 16 at 4:30 p.m.

After losing its Sky-Em League opener, the Outlaws junior varsity recorded three straight wins with freshman Katie Dumolt picking up all three pitching victories and big hitting coming from Tianna Nieri. Under coach Rusty Bellew, they are 3-3 on the season.