Softball opens season at Northwest Cup; NAIA schools prove too much for Loggers as bats fail to produce runs
The lady Logger softball squad kicked off their 2011 campaign with high hopes. Ultimately the team fell just a bit short against tough competition in the Northwest Cup down in Portland, Ore. last weekend.
Logger softball has been very underclassmen-oriented the last couple of years, but it is finally time for a mature, veteran team to step onto the field in an attempt to finish atop the Northwest Conference when the dust settles at the end of April.
The first stop for the Loggers was a bit disappointing by win/loss standards, but the weekend was not without highlights. Playing against all NAIA schools already partway through their season, the Loggers’ pitching staff stepped up and “pitched really well despite the offense coming up short in a lot of games,” junior outfielder Anthea Aasen (Tacoma, Wash.) said, one of which was a close 4-3 loss to the College of Idaho.
Senior Auriel Sperberg (Spanaway, Wash.) started the game, pitching four solid innings of two-run ball before she was relieved by junior Joleen Monfiletto (Everett, Wash.). Mofiletto closed out the game, giving up just two runs as well. The offensive charge, led by Aasen with two RBIs, came up just short, as the College of Idaho was able to hold the Loggers scoreless in the final four innings.
On the weekend, the Loggers enjoyed three home runs and four doubles, as well as 22 hits in all four games combined. Aasen had three RBIs on the weekend, including one home run against Concordia Sunday morning. Junior Aryn Grause (Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley) tacked on a home run as well as three RBIs herself, while juniors Monfiletto and Chrissy Atterson (Marysville, Wash.) each drove in a run. The Logger offense hit a collective .232 at the plate with a .368 slugging percentage.
As the weather warms up, so will the Logger bats. Combine this with the improved defense and veteran pitching who showed just how good they could be this weekend and it should be quite a year for the Loggers’ softball team in 2011.