Softball all-stars headed to state

The Sisters/Redmond Junior Little League All-Star softball team will carry a 20-3 record into the state tournament on Saturday.

The team, managed by Rusty Bellew and coached by Tom Rowe, will open play Saturday at 1 p.m. against Forest Grove's all-star contingent. The tournament will be played at the softball complex at 50th and Steele Streets in Portland.

A victory puts them on the field again at 6 p.m. on July 26. The championship game will be held July 29.

And what do the coaches know about their first-round opponent?

"Absolutely nothing," said Bellew, who doubles as the Sisters High School junior varsity softball coach as well as assisting with the Outlaws' U-16 summer team. But nothing changes, said Bellew. The focus will be on the same things that got them to the state tournament, which has been fundamentals.

"Mostly hitting and fielding," said Bellew. "We've also worked on base running. The coaching staff has tried to reinforce the importance of the mental aspect of softball. The necessity of knowing how to handle each play before the play occurs."

That strategy worked well at the district tournament in Hermiston three weeks ago when they won three of four games, the tournament title and the state berth.

The locals opened the tournament with a win against Columbia, 9-4 and next dispatched Crook County, 7-0. The win kept Sisters/Redmond in the winners bracket and advanced them to the finals (of the five-team, double-elimination event). Though they lost the first game, 10-7, they rebounded impressively to win the championship game, 4-1.

"We hit the ball well throughout the tourney," said Bellew.

Amanda Cain led the team, batting .583, followed closely by Quincy Mate who hit .500 for the four games. Pitchers Katie Bellew and Harley Rowe stepped up, allowing the opponents to hit a mere .168 and combined for an ERA of only 2.50.

While the offense provided an average of 6.75 runs per game the defense played well, led by outstanding performances by first baseman Britney Simundson and catcher Taylor Nieri.

Bellew said that "in a double elimination tournament it's a big advantage to stay in the winners bracket as long as possible. So I'd like to see the team approach the first game with confidence and try to force the action in the game."

The manager was also quick to point out that while winning the tournament would be great, it isn't necessarily the ultimate goal.

"I want the experience to be a positive one for the team. This is an opportunity for the young ladies to experience tournament softball and learn while doing," Bellew said. "Already the season has expanded far beyond what almost all of the players have had before (in length), and hopefully we've used this extra time to grow as a team and as softball players."

Members of the team are: Taylor Nieri (catcher), Britney Simundson (first base), Jaime Simundson (utility infielder), Quincy Shepard (infield/outfield), Lauren Cantwell (third base/outfield), Harley Rowe (pitcher/shortstop), Tiana Nieri (third base), Marcy Calavan (left field), Justine Bruguier (utility infield/outfield), Katie Bellew (pitcher/second base), Amanda Cain (center field) and Ralyn Williams (right field).