TCP; Softball team sweeps doubleheader, prepares for NWAACC Championships

This article originally ran at www.theclackamasprint.com. Too see the original, click here.

David Beasley, Associate Editor
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Volume 46, Issue 20
sports

The ladies of Clackamas Community College softball eagerly secured an early victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Lower Columbia Red Devils on Saturday at home. Showing their will for victory, Clackamas scored a run in the first inning and two in the second, laying the foundation for the 3-1 win.

The Cougars are playing good ball right now, but head coach Jessica Buel is always looking for improvement.

“It’s just about getting better every game and every at bat to prepare for NWAACCs,” said Buel. Buel has also been impressed with the multitude of players that have been stepping up lately for the Cougars.
“I don’t know if I could single one person out, actually it’s probably been someone different every day and everyone’s been contributing so that’s been huge,” said Buel.

The team confidence was evident from the moment the team cheered a rally cry of “CCC!” to begin the game. The momentum and power of the Clackamas team was comparable to the crashing gusts of wind blowing through the home field. The sun was beating down, increasing the intensity of the atmosphere. Loud booming music between plays, constant team cheers and chants set a soundtrack for the event.

The Cougars defended the first inning and no runs were scored by Red Devils. Clackamas’ first batter of the day was freshman Rachel Ray. With a running start, she hit the ball to left field low and with amazing momentum, barreled through Lower Columbia infielder Jessica McDonald at first base, then kept going to score Clackamas’ first run. The crowd cheered. “I wanna’ see that again,” said one fan.

In the second inning, Clackamas freshman Taylor Gould hit the ball on the ground to center. It was thrown to first by a Red Devil but first base missed the ball so Gould was safe. She then stole second during a bunt attempt, before scoring the Cougars second run on freshman Kiara Vasquez’ hit. Vasquez made it to third base and then home during another Ray hit. At the end of the second inning Clackamas led 3-0.

The next three innings were very defensive and some solid plays were made by both teams. In the sixth inning, Red Devils freshman Haley Hibbs hit the ball straight at Cougar pitcher Alyson Boytz, who almost caught the ball, but it hit so hard it knocked her glove off. Hibbs made it safely to first. Clackamas sophomore Lucy Baldovino replaced Boytz as pitcher. Still no runs were scored by Lower Columbia in the sixth inning.

Like two weather systems crashing together, the seventh inning was a powerful struggle. Red Devils freshman Bethany Burch hit the ball all the way to the fence and eventually scored Lower Columbia’s first run during Ashley Wells’ hit. The last batter of game one was Red Devils sophomore Mackenzie Martin who hit it high to centerfield where Clackamas’ outfielder made a nice home for it in her glove. Game one was over as the Cougars defeated the Red Devils 3-1.

The Cougars rallied in the second game, scoring four runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to pull out a 9-8 victory. Leadoff batter Ray had four hits and three runs scored to lead the Cougars. Rashaun Sells added three hits, including a home run, while driving in three runs. Kayla Stevens added three hits and Gould homered in the win. Boytz pitched the final three innings to get her second win of the day, pushing her record to 11-3 on the season.

Buel was excited to get the doubleheader sweep over Lower Columbia.
“I’m very proud of our team,” said Buel. “We had to fight back and we came back in that second game and we played our game and did what we needed to do to win the game and that’s what matters.”

Clackamas (12-4 in S. Region, 25-13 overall) is guaranteed to finish in the top three of the region standings for a 15th consecutive season and is currently in second place, trailing Mt. Hood by one-half game. Mt. Hood has won 11 straight games overall and seven in a row in league to get back into the race. The Cougars hosted the Saints in a very important doubleheader on Tuesday at 3 p.m., but results were not available at press time.

The Cougars stay home for their last games of the regular season, hosting a doubleheader against Clark CC on Saturday beginning at noon. The Cougars are eyeing the NWAACC Championships from May 17-20 at Delta Park in Portland for a season ending flourish.