Buff softball nearly upsets second-place Rangers

The White Buffalo softball squad played one of their best games of the season on senior night Thursday, May 9 but one bad defensive inning for the Buffs let Estacada slip out of town with a 7-5 win.

Madras came out firing on offense, scoring three runs in the first inning. Estacada — which has won seven of their last nine games, losing only to No. 1-ranked The Dalles twice — rallied for three runs in the second to tie it at three.

Outside of the second-inning three runs, Madras pitcher Kiera Tortalita was very good on the day, allowing runs in only two innings.

Meanwhile, after the Rangers tied it at three, the Buffs got a big double from Rylan Davis in the bottom of the second that scored Hailee Kathrein to make it 4-3 Madras. Davis was tough with the bat all game, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Madras scored another run in the fourth to make it 5-3 Buffs, while Tortalita, backed by solid defense, blanked the Rangers in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

But then came the top of the sixth. The Rangers pounded out a few hits, but the Buffs suddenly got very sloppy, committing three errors. Before the dust settled, Estacada had scored four runs and taken the 7-5 lead.

Madras was unable to mount an offensive challenge in their final two at-bats.

"We played all-around beautifully, but one bad inning," said coach Shawna McConnell. 'We can really play with anyone in the league when we put together all the pieces."

Along with Davis, Lily Moses was tough with the bat, going 3-for-4. Kathrein was 2-for-4. Ashley Camas, Valeria Alonso, Becca Francis, Brooklin Anderson and LaRhia Stevens also had singles for Madras.

The Buffs' loss put them at 3-9 in Tri-Valley play and 5-13 overall. Estacada moved to 9-4 and 15-7. The Dalles leads the league with a 14-0 record, 18-1 overall. Crook County is in third place at 8-5, 13-11. Gladstone trails Madras at 2-9 and 8-12 while Molalla is 2-11, 5-17.

The Buffs cap their season Friday with a doubleheader in Gladstone.

"They're very capable of beating anyone," McConnell said of her team. "(They are) are a talented, amazing group of young women. I love this team."