The Crook County High School softball team hosted Madras Wednesday, April 17 and came away with a 12-2 Tri-Valley Conference victory in a game that was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.
“I think it's amazing,” Kendall Martinez said of the Cowgirls remaining undefeated in league. “But, I think we need to maybe work a little harder and more focused and have more urgency.”
Crook County finished with nine hits in the contest, compared to just two for the White Buffalos. The Cowgirls broke on top with four runs in the bottom half of the first inning. However, Madras attempted to battle back, scoring a run in the second and another run in the third inning to close to 4-2. Madras also had runners in scoring position on multiple occasions, including runners on second and third in the fifth inning, but were unable to push any additional runs across.
Meanwhile, the Cowgirls added two runs in the third and exploded for six runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Hailee Kathrein and Lily Moses each had singles for the White Buffalos, while Tylee Cossitt and Raelynn Weaver each had a home run and a double for the Cowgirls. Jaycee Villastrigo added a double, while Jolene Bartolotti went 2-2 with a pair of bunt singles. Kaylyn Fildes and Kelcie Kensinger each added singles for the Cowgirls.
Madras stole four bases in the contest, including two by Brooklin Anderson, and one each from Kathrein and Valerie Alonso, but Crook County catcher Danner Hemphill also threw two runners out at second who were attempting to steal. Hemphill and Bartolotti each stole a base for the Cowgirls.
Kiera Tortalita started in the pitchers circle for Madras and threw three and a third innings, allowing seven hits and 10 runs. Tortalita struck out two and walked three. Kathrein came in to relieve Tortalita in the bottom of the fourth inning, allowing two hits and two runs in two-thirds innings of work.
Cossitt started in the pitchers circle for Crook County and threw three complete innings, giving up one hit, walking two and striking out five, while giving up two runs, only one of which was earned. Jaycee Villastrigo pitched the fourth inning, allowing one hit while striking out two. She was followed in the pitchers circle by Martinez, who closed out the game, not allowing a hit in her one inning of work, but walking two.
Crook County is now 10-4 overall and 5-0 in Tri-Valley play, while Madras drops to 4-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The two teams play again tonight in Madras.
“I think we did really good tonight, but we can do better tomorrow,” Martinez said. “We need to put more effort into our pregame and more effort in the field and just go all out, all of the time.”
Crook County then travels to Henley on Saturday, where the two teams will finish a game that was called due to darkness with the score tied 2-2 and then play a second game later in the day. Henley, 13-2 overall, is ranked No. 1 in the OSAA power rankings. The No. 3-ranked Cowgirls then travel to The Dalles on Monday to take on No. 2-ranked The Dalles, 9-1, 5-0, in a game that could go a long ways toward determining the conference playoff picture.
Crook County 12, Madras 2
at Crook County
Madras – 0 1 1 0 0 – 2 2 3
Crook County – 4 0 2 6 x – 12 9 1
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