Lady Raiders softball on a winning streak

The Lady Raiders beat the top-ranked 1B fast-pitch softball team in the state last week, then shut out the top 2B team on its home field.

Lake Roosevelt's girls are currently ranked fifth in the state among 2B teams with a 13-2 overall win-loss record, 5-1 in the league.

They beat the top-ranked 1B Almira-Coulee-Hartline in both games of a doubleheader in Grand Coulee April 19.

In the first game, LR led 3-0 after the first inning, scoring seven more in the third, one in the fourth, and three more in the fifth.

ACH scored one run per inning from the second inning through the fifth, making for the 14-4 final score and LR victory.

Emma Marchand shined at bat for LR, hitting two home runs and two doubles.

Aaliyah Marchand hit a homer of her own.

Also batting for LR, Nautika Brown hit a triple and a single; Halle Albert hit a double; Presley Steffens hit two singles; and Sawyer Steffens, Lola Yazzie, Desiree George, and Taylor Vargas-Thomas all hit singles.

Emma Marchand pitched the whole game, striking out eight and allowing just five hits.

In the second game, LR led 2-0 after the first inning, and scored just two more runs themselves, allowing only one run from ACH for a 4-1 final.

At bat, Sawyer Steffens hit a triple and a double; Aaliyah Marchand hit a pair of doubles; Presley Steffens and Emma Marchand both hit doubles, Vargas-Thomas hit two singles; and Albert and George both hit singles.

On the mound, eighth-grader Presley Steffens struck out five batters in four innings while allowing just two hits. Aaliyah Marchand struck out seven in three innings, walking one batter and allowing four hits.

"The girls were able to see a solid team, and they were up for the challenge," Coach Jaci Gross said. "Emma and Presley had outstanding play at the plate and on the mound. Taylor Vargas-Thomas also had a solid night hitting."

The next day, April 20, LR shut out Okanogan, the number-one ranked 2B team in the state, 10-0 in Okanogan. LR had lost 18-6 to the Lady Bulldogs in Grand Coulee March 24.

But on Wednesday, LR scored four runs in the third inning, two in the fourth, three in the sixth, and one in the seventh to secure the victory.

Batting for LR, Emma Marchand hit a pair of home runs, as well as a double; Presley Steffens hit a homer and a single; Aaliyah Marchand hit a pair of doubles; Brown hit a double; and Albert and Sawyer Steffens each hit singles.

Presley Steffens pitched the full game, striking out five and allowing just five hits.

"What a game!" Gross remarked. "Defensively, we had zero errors, along with a couple of incredible plays by Albert and [Aaliyah and Emma] Marchand. Our bats were solid, and the pitching was flawless. Every single member of our team should be proud of themselves. It took the entire team to bring down Okanogan."

For their next notch, LR won both games of a doubleheader with Soap Lake Saturday at home in Grand Coulee, winning both games 15-0.

In the first game, Emma Marchand and Presley Steffens each hit bases-loaded grand slams and were greeted by their teammates at the plate to celebrate. They each hit doubles, as well.

George hit a pair of singles, and Sawyer Steffens, Yazzie, and Peyton Jake all hit singles.

Emma Marchand struck out seven batters, allowing just two hits.

In the second game, LR started off with a 9-0 lead at the end of the first inning, scoring one more in the second and five more in the third.

Emma Marchand and Presley Steffens each hit a homer, with Marchand also having a single and double in the game.

Sawyer Steffens hit two singles and a double; Aspen Smith and Cora Nicholson each hit doubles; and Arianna Fosnough and Vargas-Thomas each hit singles.

Pitching for LR, Presley Steffens struck out six batters and allowed zero hits.

The Lady Raiders were scheduled to host Pateros yesterday, results of which will be in next week's Star.

They are scheduled to play at Liberty Bell High School April 29 in a doubleheader, with the first game slated for 3:30 p.m.