Softball opens with Okanogan

After the confusion of having their head coach quit and the original opener with Cashmere postponed, the Lady Raiders opened at home under interim Head Coach Kevin Rosenbaum against the always-tough Okanogan Bulldogs, losing 30-4 Thursday at home.

Junior Danielle Laramie took to the mound for what Coach Rosenbaum believes was her first-ever game pitching.

In the first inning, the Bulldogs sensed that and ran out ahead, taking advantage of every mistake the Lady Raiders made.

It looked to turn ugly quickly, but instead of quitting, Laramie stood her ground and pitched four more innings.

Rosenbaum was impressed with her resolve and stated that she was the exceptional player for the Lady Raiders in the game.

"The girls bounced back after a rough first inning,” interim Assistant Coach Ted Piccolo remarked. “They really showed their mettle by staying tough mentally against a very good Okanogan team.”

Rosenbaum made it clear that the girls at not playing at 100 percent due in part to the coaching issues, their youth, and still moving players around to find the best spot for each player. So at last night’s game against Brewster at Grand Coulee the coaches played a different girl at catcher and shifted a new girl into the field to see if the new combination is a better fit.

The Lady Raiders will travel to Brewster on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.

Rosenbaum said he did not put in for the vacancy but will stay as head coach until the position is filled, which may happen as early as the end of the week.

Previous head coach Flint Bjorsen has not responded to requests for comment.