Three victorious blowouts, a heart breaker and a blowout loss highlighted the opening weekend for the Lower Columbia softball season.
The Devils defeated Walla Walla 10-0, beat Blue Mountain 14-1 and lost to Spokane 15-1 on Saturday February 28th in Richland. On Sunday March 1, the Devils gave up six runs in the bottom of the 7th to lose a tough one to Wenatchee Valley 9-8. LCC then concluded the weekend with a 10-3 win over Big Bend.
There were certainly more highlights than lowlights on the opening weekend at the NWAC Pre-Season tourney.
In the opener, Madison Barr got the season off to a flying start with a mammoth 3-run homer in the first inning against Walla Walla. Barr had two hits and four RBI's in the game. Delaney Kelley had three hits and two RBI's in her first college game. Leadoff hitter Nicole Bolasky scored three runs. It all backed the pitching of Julia Breidt, who spun the complete game, five inning shutout allowing just two hits with three strikeouts.
The Devils stayed hot in the next game in the win over Blue Mountain. Maggie Harshaw had three hits and six RBI in the game including a double and triple. Barr was 2 for 3 with a double and triple. Chelsey Miller had three hits. Not only did Bailey Ellis collect two RBI, but she was tremendous in the circle. Ellis allowed just one hits and one run with six strikeouts in the six inning complete game.
The Devils were cooled off by Spokane in the third game Saturday against Spokane. The Sasquatch had a six-run 4th inning and romped to the win. Ashley Kelly had two of the Red Devils five hits.
Sunday LCC was looking good against a tough Wenatchee Valley team, leading 8 to 3 going into the 7th inning. The Knights exploded for six runs to seize the win.
The Devils took it out on Big Bend in the tourney finale. Bolasky had two hits and three RBI's. Kelley had two hits and two ribbies. Kelly also had two hits and scored three runs. Krystina Fischer collected the five inning complete game shutout by scattering eight hits with three strikeouts.
The Devils head to Lacey for an NWAC Inter Region event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday March 7-9. The Devils take on Highline at 3 pm Friday followed by a 5 pm game with Centralia. Saturday, LCC plays South Puget Sound at 11:00 am, Bellevue at 1:00 pm and then Wenatchee Valley 3:00 pm. Play concludes Sunday with an 11:00 am matchup with Green River and a 1:00 pm game versus Olympic. All the games are at the RAC Turf Fields in Lacey.
