The Crook County High School softball team went on the road Monday, May 6 and came away with an important 11-1 victory over the Madras White Buffalos.
The Cowgirls were scheduled to be the home team had to go on the road because weather conditions made the Crook County field unplayable. The team scored in each of the five innings that were played, and could have scored more, but as the designated home team the game ended when the first run of the fifth inning scored, due to the 10-run rule.
The win came after the Cowgirls have been struggling, dropping six of their last eight games, leaving Crook County in a tie with Estacada for second place in the Tri-Valley Conference.
“It's been pretty frustrating, just trying to find our rhythm again,” starting centerfielder Raelynn Weaver said following the game. “We want to get our momentum again, so I feel like getting this win today was very beneficial for us and our program.”
The Cowgirls scored a pair of runs in the second inning, then added four in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth and the final run in the fifth inning as they dominated the game.
The Cowgirls had the big offensive game despite missing two of their normal starters as Danner Hemphill and Tylee Cossitt did not play in the game. With the two players missing, head coach Jeremy Puckett completely changed the team's batting order and the strategy worked as the team got hits from throughout the entire lineup.
“I feel like it helped a lot today just seeing some new faces at the start and just throughout the whole lineup, Weaver said. “We were very consistent today and we were able to get runs on the board in every inning.”
Crook County pounded out 14 hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run from Jaycee Villastrigo and a double by Weaver.
Villastrigo went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Weaver was 3-for-4 and Adyson Luna went 2-for-3. Other Cowgirls to get hits included Jolene Bartolotti, Kaylyn Fildes, Alyson Ware, Kendall Martinez Moriah Riley and Kya Mozingo, all with singles.
Meanwhile, Villastrigo pitched a complete game for the Cowgirls allowing just three hits, while striking out 12. The lone White Buffalo run came on a home run from freshman Brooklin Anderson.
With the win the Cowgirls improved to 8-4 in league and 13-10 overall, while the White Buffalos fell to 3-8, 5-12.
The Cowgirls play at The Dalles, 13-0, 17-1, which has already wrapped up the league title, on Wednesday. The defending state champion Riverhawks are currently second in the OSAA power rankings, while the Cowgirls are ninth.
“We need to be consistent throughout the lineup and just hit the ball and stay with them,” Weaver said. “And our defense needs to be really tight with no errors, but overall we just have to play hard and play Cowgirl softball.”
Crook County then closes out the regular season on Friday with a doubleheader against the Molalla Indians, 2-10, 5-16.
“I think we need to have a good mindset going into that game and just make sure that we are ready to play,” Weaver said. “Just play hard and we can beat them. We know we can.”
Crook County 11, Madras 1
at Madras, May 6 (Crook County designated home team)
Madras – 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 3 2
Crook County – 2 4 2 2 1 – 11 14 2
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