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Softball:
Lady Saints stumble in season, slide into NWAACCs
The Advocate
The Saints softball team is moving into this year’s NWAACC Championships at Delta Park despite losing six out of their last nine league games.
The Saints ended the season a game under .500 with a record of 9-10 in conference and 22-12 overall.
The Saints had a rough going over the weekend, losing three out of four games against the Chemeketa Community College Storm Friday and the Lower Columbia Red Devils Saturday.
On Friday, the Saints beat the Storm 3-2 in game one behind pitcher Lauren Hadenfeld. The Saints dropped the next game 8-1 with Brittany McArthur on the
mound.
On Saturday, the Saints lost both games, including a close 1-0 battle in game one, with Hadenfeld on the mound. Hadenfeld struck out 12 Red Devils in the loss. In game two, the Saints lost 10-2 with three homeruns coming off the Red Devils’ bats. McArthur picked up another loss on the mound.
Head coach Meadow McWhorter said her team lost four of their last six games in close battles. “We struggled taking advantage of opportunities, left runners on base in key situations and lacked confidence.”
The Saints look to battle back with a first-round match-up Friday at 11:30 a.m. against the Northern Region champions the Bellevue Community College Bulldogs, who they beat 4-2 on April 4.
McWhorter wants the team to move forward and focus on the NWAACC tournament.
“We accomplished our goal making it to the tournament. League is history; the only one thing that matters now is the NWAACC tournament.”
McWhorter said she feels this team has yet to “show our true potential” and she thinks the tournament is the right time in doing so.
“The tournament is the new beginning for us to showcase how good we really are. The team is only looking in one direction: Delta Park. We have rolled with the punches all season and we’ve made it to the big show. The gloves are on and we are ready.”
Asked about the Saints chances going into NWAACCs, McWhorter said she felt it is anyone’s tournament.
“We have a shot,” she said. “No one has truly beaten us yet. Every loss we have, we have beaten ourselves and the team knows this. We are hungry to do some damage.”
In game one against the Bulldogs, McWhorter wants her team to come out aggressive and to take care of business on all dimensions of the field.
“It will be a battle,” she said. “Pitching, defense and timely hitting will be the key to a win. We have all the right pieces. It is up to us to put them together.”