Teammates encouraged a Liberty Bell batter from the bench.
After weather conditions forced cancellation of early-season games, the Liberty Bell High School softball team finally made it to the diamond for a home-field doubleheader against Pateros on Saturday (March 23). Under more spring-like conditions, the Lady Lions split the two games, losing 6-1 in the first but recovering for a 9-3 win in the second.
Liberty Bell’s bats were a bit rusty in the opening game, as the Lady Lions registered just three hits. Walks and steals gave Liberty Bell some opportunities, but the Lady Lions stranded eight runners on base. Sabyl Curtis scored Liberty Bell’s only run after tripling to right field.
Center-fielder Tommie Ochoa, back on the squad after spending last season with the track team, was two-for-three at the plate. Catcher Hannah Bakke stole a couple of bases. Pitcher Peyton Lawrence was on the mound for the whole game, giving up four earned runs and striking out five.
In the second game, the Lady Lions unlimbered their bats for 12 hits. Lawrence, playing shortstop, helped turn a double play, had a hit and a run batted in, and added a stolen base. Madi Surface had two hits, scored a run and knocked in three; Ochoa had another two hits and two stolen bases; Adee Smith accounted for a hit, run and steal; Hailey Damman rapped two hits and scored once; Joslyn Rispone scored a run and drove in another; Kora Gilbert had a hit, run and stolen base; Elizabeth Clark had a hit and a run; and Curtis also scored in the second game.
Ochoa was on the mound for the second game and got the win.
The Lady Lions have a new coach this year. Bob Bucsko, the Mountain Lions football coach, replaced Lee Pilkinton.
“We have 17 girls turning out; however three are seventh-graders who will not be able to play in games,” Bucsko said earlier in the season. “Its a real challenge to be in a gym and indoor batting cages, but the team has risen to the challenge and we are working on fundamentals every day.”
The Lady Lions were scheduled to host Tonasket on Tuesday(March 26), then travel to Lake Roosevelt on Saturday (March 30) for another double-header.
