Madras got a huge 6-4 road win over Molalla Monday, April 15, to move to 2-2 in Tri-Valley Conference softball action.
The Buffs then had two games against Crook County, unbeaten in league, and fell 12-2 and 10-1 on Wednesday and Thursday.
But even at 2-4, the Buffs are in fourth place, behind the Cowgirls, The Dalles — also unbeated in league and ranked second in the state — and 4-2 Estacada, who the Buffs play twice this week. Coach Shawna McConnell’s squad are square in the running for the league’s third playoff spot.
“That’s what we’re gunning for,” said the coach.
Madras built a 6-2 lead over Molalla and held on for the 6-4 victory. Ashley Camas pitched five innings, struck out four and only walked two in getting the win. Hailee Kathrein came on in relief in the fifth and pitched two innings, giving up two runs but shutting the door.
Camas was also key in the batter’s box, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Kathrein smacked a triple and a double at Molalla in going 2-for-4. Rylan Davis, Roaree Jacobs and Lily Moses also doubled. Moses went 3-for-4 on the evening. Annie Brisbois went 2-for-3.
“We hit really well today. Everyone in the lineup was making great contact,” said McConnell. “Defensively we played lights out (only one error on the day). We made some big outs in the outfield, Ashley threw amazing. It was an all-out great team effort.”
Molalla got on the board first, scoring a run in the opening inning. The Buffs then put two on the board in the second only to see the Indians tie it in the bottom of the second. But Madras scored runs in the third and fifth then plated two insurance runs to go up 6-2 before hanging on for the victory.
Facing the Cowgirls
Crook County has a senior-laden, talented team. They are 11-6 overall, but five of those losses are to teams ranked No. 1 in the state in their division, including three good games with Henley, the No. 1-ranked 4A team.
Big innings pushed the Cowgirls to two victories over the Buffs.
On Wednesday, April 17 in Prineville, CC scored four in the bottom of the first off Buff starter Kiera Tortalita. The Buffs plated a run in the second and another in the third to make it 4-2, but then Crook County pushed across two more. Leading 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Cowgirls got offensive again, scoring six runs.
Madras was unable to get the score under 10 runs, so the game ended after 4.5 innings. The Buffs didn’t help themselves on defense, committing four errors.
Kathrein was the Buff credited with an RBI. Davis and Moses had the other two Buff hits.
Thursday in Madras, the Buffs played a much more sound game defensively, committing just one error, but the Cowgirls rapped out 16 hits against three Buffalo pitchers.
CC scored four in the first, three more in the second, then three more in the fourth to lead 10-1. But the good Madras defense kept the Cowgirls from ending this early. The Buffs didn’t score another run but they didn’t give up any either, pushing the game to all seven innings.
Jacobs went 1-for-3 and picked up the RBI. Valerie Alonso hit a double for Madras.
“We played competitively, no errors, but we just struggled at the plate,” said the coach.
Tri-Valley Conference Softball Standings
As of April 22
League record, overall record, OSAA power rankings
Crook County 6-0, 11-6, 9
The Dalles 6-0, 10-1, 2
Estacada 4-2, 10-5, 17
Madras 2-4, 4-8, 22
Gladstone 0-6, 6-9, 25
Molalla 0-6, 3-12, 28
Crook County 6-0,
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