Outlaws beat Cottage Grove, lose 2 to Sweet Home

The Sisters High School Outlaws varsity softball team saw all sides of softball in their three Sky-Em League games last week.

Against Cottage Grove, they got good hitting, good defense and held off a late rally to get the victory. In a double-header against Sweet Home one day later, the Outlaws ran into good pitching, a lot of timely hitting and lost a pair of league wins.

In Thursday's 8-6 win over Cottage Grove, the Outlaws got run-scoring doubles from three players and turned three double plays.

The Outlaws scored one run in the first, four in the third and three in the fifth; and then held off a three-run Cottage Grove seventh. Each team recorded seven base hits, but doubles by Cassidy Ling-Scott, Rylee Funk and Amanda Smith produced runs. Sarah Hartford also had a sacrifice fly to drive in a run.

Coach Dave Smith said there were several "silver linings" in the victory.

"We went into this game missing two of our starting infielders, so Rylee Funk came from behind the plate and went to third, Emma Ransom moved from the outfield to second, and the big surprise was center-fielder Sophia Affatati went behind the plate and caught for Smith the entire game and she only gave up one drop third strike," said Coach Smith.

Smith was proud of his defense, not that the double plays killed Cottage Grove rallies. Recording the rally-killers were Savana Ryan playing at first, who caught a line drive, then tagged the runner on first; second baseman Emma Ransom caught a line drive and tossed the ball to shortstop Cassidy Ling-Scott; and Ling-Scott fielded a ground ball, threw it to Ryan at first, who then threw to Affatati at home for the out.

Amanda Smith picked up her fifth win of the season, striking out eight and walking two in the process.

In the opener against Sweet Home, the Outlaws lost 16-0 and managed just four hits. Sweet Home broke the game open with a pair of seven-run innings in the third and fourth

frames.

"We played two good innings at the start, and it just fell apart after that,"said Smith. "Sweet Home was able to put the ball into play by hitting it into the

holes."

Sophia Affatati went three-for-three to lead the Outlaws. Ling-Scott had two singles and Sarah Hartford and Nancy Montecino also singled for

Sisters.

Few things went right for the Outlaws in game two as Sweet Home collected 22 base hits to record a 20-0 run-rule victory.

But that wasn't the worst of it. Sweet Home pitcher Ashton Walker allowed the Outlaws only a single by Affatati. Walker struck out six and walked none.

Up next for the Outlaws is Sutherlin on April 25, followed by a double-header against Sky-Em League leader Elmira on April 28. And on May 2, the Outlaws face Cottage Grove for a twin bill.

Elmira leads Sky-Em play with a 7-1 record, followed by Junction City at 6-1, Sweet Home 4-4, Sutherlin 3-5, 2-4 Sisters and 0-7 Cottage Grove.

The Outlaws are 5-7 overall.