Posted Monday April 26, 2010
Revised April 28, 2010
IRRIGON - The Irrigon Knights softball team split a doubleheader with the Pilot Rock Rockets on Saturday, April 24, 2010. It was a matchup of the leading teams of the 2A Special District 5. Irrigon came in with a 6-0 record in district play. Pilot Rock came in with a 4-1 SD5 record. Overall Irrigon had a 13-2 record and Pilot Rock had a 14-2 record. The day was overcast and blustery making for a cool day of sports.
Game 1
The game was tied 0-0 until the top of the sixth inning. The teams had been
battling a strong wind blowing in from center field all game. Foul balls would
curve out of play because of the wind. That weather jinx disappeard in the top
of the sixth. Elizabeth Willingham of the Rockets hit a roller and made it safely
to first base. The next batter AmyLee Perrine smashed a homerun to center field
scoring her and Willingham and giving the Pirates the 2-0 lead. Kylee Jensen
then hit to left field. Renee Mulcare then hit to second base where it was
bobbled and she made it safely to first base. A ground out advanced Mulcare to
third. A passball allowed Mulcare to score from third and that gave the Rockets
the 3-0 lead.
Irrigon tried to score in the sixth and seventh innings but played into a series of ground outs and fly outs.
Pilot Rock took the first game 3-0.
Game 2
The second game was different than the first. The teams were able to get on base
and score more consistantly. In the top of the first Kylee Jensen of Pilot Rock
hit a grounder that scored Amy Perrine from third base to give the Rockets the
1-0 lead.
In the top of the third Ashley Gambil scored from third on a long fly ball by Perrine. That pushed the Rocket's lead to 2-0. Irrigon finally got things going in the bottom of the third. Cheyenne McKinney led off the third getting on base with a grounder. Alicia Martin then hit a roller that got to first safely and pushed McKinney to second. Ariel Schock then laid down a bunt that got her onto first. With the bases loaded Staci Stanger walked driving in McKinney and closing the gap to 2-1. Then Leslie Coffman hit a grounder to the shortstop and drove in Main and Schock and giving Irrigon the 3-2 lead. Noel Wright then came up to the plate and blasted a shot to center field scoring Stanger. Then Alisha Mego hit to right field scoring Coffman. Irrigon then led 5-2.
Top of the fourth inning picked up a run when Renee Mulcare stole home on a pass ball. Irrigon led 5-3 at the bottom of the fourth. Stanger walked followed by Wright getting on base with a grounder. Amber Kramer went in as a courtesy runner for Wright. Alisha Mego hit to right field driving in Stanger and Kramer giving Irrigon the 7-3 lead.
Pilot Rock's lead off batter in the top of the fifth, Ashley Gambil, hit a line shot to center field. Willingham then laid down a sac bunt allowing Gambil to score.
In the top of the seventh Cheyenne Carter of the Rockets got on base with a line shot down the third base line. Carter worked her way to third stealing at every opportunity. Carter then stole home on a pass ball. AmyLee Perrine got on base with a long fly to right field. Kylee Jensen then hit down the third base line driving in Perrine. Irrigon struck out the last batter and took the 8-6 win.
Photos by Terry Aichele