Softball posts first wins of the season

The Lady Raider softball squad posted their first wins of the 2013 season last week by beating the Manson Trojans Saturday in Grand Coulee.

Head Coach Jamie Lezard said the girls were happy to be playing at home and picking up the first wins of the season in front of the home crowd at Grand Coulee Dam Middle School.

Earlier in the week, Lake Roosevelt travelled to Pateros and lost in a shutout 20-0. The Lady Raiders were 10-runned in the first inning, making mental errors on the field that hampered their defensive play.

The Nannies had a stout pitcher with a solid repertoire of pitches to choose from, Lezard said.

“(She) had a good change-up pitch that fooled us most of the game,” he said, noting that this was the first time his squad had faced such an experienced pitcher this season.

Then on Saturday, in front of the home crowd, the Lady Raiders put together two wins in an offensive explosion. In the first game the Lady Raiders scored 42 runs, while allowing the Trojans 30.

In the second game LR won by 15 runs, with the score being LR 18, Manson 3.

Lezard said the Lady Raiders “played both games aggressively and competitively, with a .813 batting average for the day as a team.” Leading the team batting, Keya Fast Horse and Savannah Marin batted .909 and .900, respectively.

Lezard wants to see the success from the wins continue as one of his team goals was met on Saturday.

The “Ladyies played great team ball,” Lezard said. “This was the first time when everyone was on the same page.”

Last night’s home game against Central Washington North leading Liberty Bell tested that positive gain.

Saturday’s doubleheader opponent is sitting in the cellar, as the Oroville Hornets have yet to win a game in league play. Lake Roosevelt will challenge them on their home diamond.