Softball fights for playoff spot
The Saints softball squad finds itself in a battle with Chemeketa and Clackamas for a spot in the NWAACC Championships after splitting Tuesday’s doubleheader in Salem with Chemeketa, winning the first 7-5 and falling in the second 12-10. Chemeketa has the most dangerous pitcher in the NWAACC, Katie Fleer. She leads the NWAACC with 18 wins and one loss, 1.18 era and leads in saves with four. “We prepared a bit differently in practice prior to the game and took advantage of her mistakes,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter. In the first game Christyne Alley smacked a home run to help win 7-5. The next game, according to McWhorter, was full of timely hitting on both sides. “It was a battle back and forth. It came down to who was holding the bat in the final inning, which went to the home team.” They lost the second game 12-10. The Saints were rolling off the momentum from last Friday’s home wins against Clark 7-6 and 8-0. On Saturday, they crushed SWOCC 12-3 and 18-6, ending both games early. “There was a lot of timely hitting. We got it done when we had runners in scoring position,” said McWhorter. Depending on the next couple of games, the Saints (11-9) could break away from the pack and secure a playoff spot. Lower Columbia (17-4) leads the Southern Region, and since only the top four teams of each region go to the NWAACC Tournament, fourth place Mt. Hood will have little room for error to make the tournament. Mt. Hood is right behind Clackamas and Chemeketa, both 13-7. The Saints play Clackamas Friday, and two wins would tie them at 13-7. And depending on how Chemeketa plays, Mt. Hood could pass both of them if they take both games against SWOCC on Saturday at home. “We are working on getting to the tournament. We are learning how to win tough games. They are getting better more and more. They rarely make the same mistakes twice,” said McWhorter.
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