Cubs off to promising start

Published 1:40 pm Tuesday, April 7, 2015

The Wallowa County Cubs softball team opened up its season with four games last weekend. First the girls traveled to Nyssa Friday for opening day and won two league games decisively over the Bulldogs, 15-5 and 14-2. On Saturday the Cubs traveled to La Grande and lost a 1-11 game before turning things around to win the second game, 14-8. The Cubs faced a team of purely JV players in that second game.

Cubs coach Cliff Conrad was understandably pleased about his team’s play in the Friday opener. “The girls came out slugging and our defense was solid. They got out on top and kept the other team down,” Conrad said.

He noted that Macey Frei and Darby Gassett were big hitters for the Cubs with Frei going 4-for-5 in Friday’s first game with five RBIs. Gassett was 2-for-5 in the first game with four RBIs, Gassett also had four RBIs in the second game. Freshman pitcher Madison Plew had five RBIs in the contest.

“Credit the offense,” Conrad added. “All the girls hit well from the top of the order to the bottom.”

Natalie Williams pitched the first game, striking out seven. Plew pitched the second game, recording three strikeouts.

About the 11-1 loss the next day in La Grande, Conrad remarked, “La Grande has a really good team. They’re well coached and they shut us down. We scored in the first inning but after that it was all over.”

The true JV game was a treat for everyone. The Cubs, who’ve been trying to field a JV team for years, finally have one, and Saturday’s 14-8 victory was just what these younger girls needed, according to Conrad.