Mission Softball Roundup: Getting past Deer Lodge

ST. IGNATIUS - It was fitting that in a game marked with

impressive defensive plays, Mission (5-2) downed Deer Lodge in

their second game of a double header thanks to a web gem for the

ages.

ST. IGNATIUS - It was fitting that in a game marked with impressive defensive plays, Mission (5-2) downed Deer Lodge in their second game of a double header thanks to a web gem for the ages.

Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Mission had an

11-9 lead over Deer Lodge and had the Lady Wardens down to their last out thanks to a strikeout by Kyla Olsen and a spectacular catch by right fielder Mahalia Hendren. However, two walks loaded the bases and then a single to left scored one run and the tying score was well on her way to home plate.

That's where Mission's outfielder Sara Nerby came in. She fired a laser to catcher Alyssa Doty, who tagged out the runner and home and preserved a 12-11 victory for the Lady Bulldogs.

"My girls really needed that," Mission head coach Susan Weaselhead said. "It was good to be able to get that second game of the doubleheader."

That wasn't the only spectacular play as Loren Erickson did her best young Ken Griffey Jr. impression by laying out for a ball in center field in a play that had the Deer Lodge batter muttering to herself on the way back to the dugout.

"All three of my outfielders pulled off great plays," Weaselhead said. "Otherwise that's more runs for Deer Lodge."

Through five innings, Deer Lodge had opened up a 9-4 lead but the Lady Bulldogs answered back in the top of the sixth with RBIs by Loren Erickson, Janeal McDonald and Hahalia Hendren.

In the bottom of the sixth, McDonald made a hot corner play at third base, backhanding the ball and sending it to first base for the second out of the inning. Pope got the third out and the Lady Bulldogs were in business going into the top of the seventh.

Nerby scored on an error to tie things up, then McDonald drove home Erickson to the chorus of Mission fans honking their car horns in the outfield and took the lead. Doty doubled to drive home McDonald and the Lady Bulldogs had the lead they needed going into the final stanza.

"If we just shore up a few team defensive things we can be a force for sure," Weaselhead said. "Offensively I think my girls did great."

Deer Lodge had knocked Mission out of divisionals last season so the double-header obviously had plenty of meaning considering the two could potentially meet in the playoffs this year as well.

"It definitely was a slugfest for sure," Weaselhead said.

Mission's comeback falls just shot in first game

It looked like Deer Lodge was going to take a commanding win over the Lady Bulldogs in the first game of the doubleheader

on Friday, leading 12-5 going into the bottom of the sixth.

"We came back but it was just a bit too late," Weaselhead said.

Mission scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to RBIs by Olson, Hendren, Gillingham and a two-RBI double by Nerby.

In the top of the seventh, Deer Lodge went three up, three down to set the stage for the final half-inning of play. The Lady Bulldogs trailed just 12-10 with all the momentum.

With two outs, McDonald reached on a dropped catch, was subbed by Trinda Foust, who was able to steal 2B. Olson advanced her to third base on a ground out and then when Alyssa Doty reached first base on an error, Foust was able to score.

But the payoff run didn't come as Deer Lodge recorded the final out.

DAWG BITES: McDonald hit her fourth home run of the year in the first game of the doubleheader, a two run shot in the bottom of the first. So far this season, she's hitting .483 and leads the team in RBIs with 18. Olsen pitched both games, went 3-for-8 with an RBI and a double. Kinley Pope is second on the team with 13 RBIs and is hitting .419.

(Stats are compiled from Lake County Leader box scores and aren't the official Mission High School statistical record).

Mission handed its first loss of the season

ST. IGNATIUS - Florence jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first three innings and Mission couldn't get the motors going quick enough to catch up, as the Lady Falcons handed the Lady Bulldogs their first defeat,8-4, of the season on Tuesday, April 12.

"We weren't thinking ahead on plays enough," Weaselhead said "As a team we made a few defensive errors."

Mission outhit Florence 8-7 but committed three errors in the defeat. Nerby and McDonald were the team's offensive stars as the two each went 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.

Erickson also had an RBI in the matchup.

FLORENCE 8, MISSION 4

F - 103 - 012 - 1 - 8

M - 000 - 101 - 2 - 4

Florence - 7 hits, 1 error. Mission - 8 hits, 3 errors

Lady Bulldogs batting - Sara Nerby 2-4, Loren Erickson 1-3, Kinley Pope 1-4, Mahalia Hendren 0-1, Janeal McDonald 2-4, Kyla Olson 1-3, Alyssa Doty 0-2, Serena Long 0-2, Jessica Foust 1-4, Emily Gillingham 0-1, Sariha Camacho 0-1

RBIs - McDonald, Nerby, Erickson

LB Pitching - Olson gets loss

D-LODGE 12, MISSION 11

D - 333 - 102 - 0 - 12

M - 401 - 005 - 1 - 11

Deer Lodge - 9 hit, 5 errors. Mission - 12 hits, 5 errors

Lady Bulldogs batting - Sara Nerby 1-5, Loren Erickson 0-5, Kinley Pope 2-5, Janeal McDonald 1-4, Kyla Olson 2-4, Alyssa Doty 2-5, Jessica Foust 1-3, Bryanna Steele 0-1, Mahalia Hendren 2-3, Emily Gillingham 2-2,

Doubles - Nerby HR - McDonald RBIs - Pope McDonald (2), Nerby 2, Sierra Scott, Emily Gillingham, Olson, Hendren, Doty

LB Pitching - Olson gets loss

MISSION 11, D-LODGE 10

M - 010 - 124 - 3 - 11

D - 302 - 130 - 1 - 10

Deer Lodge - 8 hits, 8 errors. Mission - 11 hits, 5 errors

Lady Bulldogs batting - Sara Nerby 1-4, Loren Erickson 2-4, Kinley Pope 1-4, Janeal McDonald 2-3, Kyla Olson 1-4, Alyssa Doty 2-5, Emily Gillingham 0-4, Mahalia Hendren 1-4, Trinda Foust 1-2, Bryanna Steele 0-2

Doubles - Olson RBIs - McDonald (2), Hendren, Foust, Doty, Erickson

LB Pitching - Olson gets win (5-2)