The Avalanche 14U placed 9th overall at USA Softball Oregon State Championships this weekend. After falling in a close match to rivals Salem-Keizer Stars on Friday, the Avalanche were put into the lower bracket and had to work their way back up with wins on Saturday to stay in.
The Avalanche got underway at 11 am with a game against the Eastside Rough Riders. Down 0-4 by the middle of the 3rd inning, #13 Shyla Nunes got on with a walk and took advantage of two passed balls to get to third base. #01 Makaila Kameyama drove Shyla in on a Fielder’s Choice to get the Avalanche on the board. #12 Emma Sullivan then hit a triple to get in scoring position and took advantage of a wild pitch to bring the score to 2-4.
With no further scoring to the middle of the 5th and with time running out, #12 Emma pulled out another triple to put #01 M Kameyama in for a score followed by a Fielder’s choice by #75 Zoe Stallcop to drive Emma in for the tying run. #15 Krysta Hagan would give the Avalanche their first lead of the game with a deep single to right field, driving in #5 Lindsey Mathiessen. A double by center fielder #00 Haylee Treml would put Krysta in for the 6th run. Although the Rough riders would score on 2 outs in the top of the 6th, the Avalanche defense held for the win and started the girls on a 4 game day at State. Pitcher #01 M Kameyama would get the win for the game, pitching 5 complete innings with #13 S Nunes coming in relief in the 6th.
In the second game of the day the Avalanche got off to a quick start taking 4-0 lead over the Bat Company, but fell behind in the bottom of the 3rd, 4-6. Pitcher #17 Mackenzie Gerlach would come in for relief, teaming up with third baseman #25 Madison Luna to throw a runner out at third on an attempted steal and then pitching a fly out to #60 Gracey Rue to end the 3rd. #5 L Mathiessen hit a triple to drive in #13 S Nunes to bring the score to 5-6 in the top of the 4th. #17 Mackenzie would hit the tying single in top of the 5th inning to drive in #15 K Hagan. The Avalanche went on a hitting parade from there, scoring 10 additional runs with a huge double from #14 Michaela “Mingo” Glenn and deep singles from #60 G Rue and #25 Madison Luna. The game ended in the bottom of the 5th with #17 Mackenzie throwing a ground out and two strikeouts to end the game.
In the Third game of the day, the girls would face the very tough Comet Fastpitch squad from Central Point. The Avalanche would give up 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but came charging back in the bottom with 7 runs featuring singles from #13 Shyla Nunes, #01 M Kameyama, #7 Makenzie Osborne, and #00 H Treml.
The Comet FP team would work their way back into contention, but their fate was sealed with a single by #15 K Hagan, a double from #7 M Osborne and a 2 RBI single from #00 H Treml. Pitcher #13 S Nunes closed the game and got the win, pitching a strike out and two ground outs in the last half inning.
In the last game of the day the Avalanche would fall to the NW Mayhem team, but not without a fight. The score remained tied through the middle of the 5th inning when the opposing team put up 4 runs to decide the game.
It was a long hot day and the girls from Central Oregon sure put up a great fight. We are all very proud of this team. Go Avalanche!
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