Lady Raiders go 1-3 against Brewster

by Scott Hunter

The Lady Raiders wrapped their regular season last week with three games against the Brewster Lady Bears, barely losing twice on the road after beating Brewster 3-0 in Grand Coulee.

Their April 25 game was a “great win at home for us on senior night,” noted Coach Jaci Gross. “Juel Swager was hot at the bat. Aaliyah (Marchand had an incredible night on the mound.”

Marchand, the lone senior on the team, struck out 17 batters, allowing three hits and walking just one.

Eighth-grader Swager led the team in hits, going 2-3 with two singles.

But in Brewster on Saturday, the Bears were trying for blood, still only scratching out two wins by one point each, 6-5, 6-5.

LR’s wounds were self-inflicted, with five errors in the field in game one, four more in the second game of the doubleheader.

In game one, Brewster scored five in the third inning, one more in the fourth. The Raiders held them scoreless for the final three innings, but the damage was done as LR brought in only two.

“It’s hard to beat a good team with five defensive errors,” Gross said. “Our seven hits to their four should have equaled a win for LR. It’s disappointing.”

The teams went bat-to-bat in inning one of game two, 2-2, but Brewster gained ground in the third again, bringing in two, then again in the fifth.

The week left LR with a 12-6 win-loss record. Brewster at 15-4.

“It’s a tough loss,” Gross said, “but we will see them again.”

She’s probably right.

The WIAA District 6 2B Fastpitch Softball Tournament starts Saturday with Liberty Bell at Oroville. Seeded third, Lake Roosevelt plays the loser of that game next Tuesday, May 9 at home at 4:30 p.m. in a loser-out contest. The winner will meet Brewster at Brewster May 12.

Home vs. Brewster

Won 3-0

B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

LR 1 0 0 1 0 1 X 3

Winning Pitcher: Aaliyah Marchand allowed 3 hits/struck out 17; walked 1

Hitting: Juel Swager 2-3 2 singles; Nautika Brown 1-3 double; Aaliyah Marchand 1-3 double scored 1 run; Sawyer Steffens 1-3 single scored 2 runs

At Brewster

Lost 5-6

LR 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 5

B 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 6

allowed 4 hits/struck out 12; walked 1

Hitting: AaliyahMarchand 3-3 single, double; Sawyer Steffens 2-3 singles, Nautika Brown 1-3 single; Juel Swager 1-4 single

At Brewster Game 2

Lost 5-6

LR 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 5

B 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 6

Losing pitcher Aaliyah Marchand struck out 9, walked 1 gave up 5 hits

Hitting - Aspen Smith 2-4 singles, Nautika Brown 1-3 single, Peyton Jake 1-3 single, Aaliyah Marchand 1-3 HR, Sawyer Steffens 1-2 double, Taylor Vargas-Thonas 1-4 single.

Erros in field: 4