Lady Raiders are league champs in softball

The Lady Raiders finished their regular season of softball with two more wins, making them league champions for the regular season, and are now moving onto postseason play.

The Lady Raiders defeated Bridgeport twice on May 7 in a doubleheader at home in Grand Coulee.

LR won the first game 19-2.

"Our defense held them consistently," remarked Head Coach Jaci Gross.

Cassidy Reyes pitched, allowing just two hits.

"Cassidy Reyes has been such a steady force defensively, pitching, and at bat all year," Head Coach Jaci Gross said.

The Lady Raiders won the second game 20-0 as Emma Marchand pitched a perfect game with eight strikeouts and allowing no hits.

"It was brilliant to see Emma pitch a perfect game in honor of TW," Gross said about Marchand who is the granddaughter of recently deceased pitching coach for the Lady Raiders Terry Warnecke.

Having lost only one game earlier during the regular season against Brewster in a doubleheader (whom they beat in the second game), the Lady Raiders' win-loss record in the Central Washington 2B league is 15-1, and 18-1 overall. That compares to second-ranked Brewster (15-1, 17-3), making LR the champions of the Central Washington 2B league.

"Great way to end the season," Gross said. "A league championship feels good for these girls, but there's a lot of work to do.

The Lady Raiders hosted the first round of the playoffs yesterday in Grand Coulee, with the first game being played between Waterville-Mansfield (9-7, 10-10) and Liberty Bell (7-9, 10-10), with the loser eliminated and LR playing the winner of that game, results of which will be reported on next week.

Win or lose, LR moves onto the next round of the playoffs Thursday, also in Grand Coulee, with games starting at 3 p.m.

Then on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. at Paul Lauzier Field in Moses Lake, teams from districts 5 and 6 will compete in the regional tournament.

Bridgeport @ LR May 7

Game 1: Lady Raiders 19 Fillies 2

Pitching: Reyes 1k, 1 earned run, 2 hits

Batting: Toulou 1-2, single; Marchand 2-2, 1 single, 1 triple, 2 RBI's; Neddo 2-4, single, double, 3 RBI's; Olbricht 3-4, double, triple, single, 2 RBI's; George 1-3, single; E. Hansen 1-3, single.

Game 2: Lady Raiders 20 Fillies 0

Pitching: Marchand 8k, 0 walks, 0 hits

Batting: Reyes 3-4, 3 singles, 3 RBI's; Toulou 1-4, single, RBI; A. Hansen 2-4, triple, single, 2 RBI's; Marchand 1-4, triple, 2 RBI's; Neddo 3-4, 3 singles, 2 RBI's; Olbricht 3-3, 3 singles, Ludwig 1-4, single; Adolph 1-3, single