Win for Lady Raiders Thursday would send them to state as district champs

The Lady Raiders softball team has two shots at going to state following a hometown win last week against Brewster that started the postseason.

The rain didn't dampen the spirits of the Lady Raiders, who hosted Brewster on May 14 in Grand Coulee, winning 12-0.

LR scored three runs in the first inning, eight in the third and one in the fourth.

On the mound for LR and shutting out the Brewster Bears were Presley Steffens and Aaliyah Marchand. Steffens pitched four innings, striking out two, and allowing three hits. Marchand pitched one inning, striking out three batters.

At bat for LR, Sawyer Steffens hit a single and a homerun; Halley Albert, Aaliyah Marchand, Presley Steffens, Nautika Brown, and Lola Yazzie all hit singles; and Aspen Smith hit a triple and two singles. 

"Aspen Smith had an incredible game at the plate," Coach Jaci Gross said. "It was great to see her excel!"

The win means the Lady Raiders will play the Okanogan Bulldogs, in Okanogan, on May 19 at 4:30 p.m.

"I'm excited and look forward to the game with the giants of Okanogan," Gross said. "This is what we work all year for!"

The Lady Raiders beat the Bulldogs 10-0 earlier in the season, the only loss of the season for the state-ranked, number-one Okanogan team.

If they win, it makes LR the District 6 champion and qualifies them for the state tournament on May 27-28 in Yakima. 

If they lose, they'll play the winner of Thursday's Tonasket/Brewster game on Saturday, May 21, in Grand Coulee at 11 a.m. for second place in the district, with the winner going to the state tournament and the loser's season ending.