Junior pitcher Maranda Hanson fired 8 strikeouts in a workmanlike, strong performance as the Elmira softball team cruised to a 6-1 non-league road victory over Creswell. The victory after two previous in the week, propelled the Lady Falcons to the #1 ranking in 4A for softball.
Despite the fact that game was close through 5 innings, Elmira never seemed to be out of control in a a game they never trailed. This was even during Creswell's only real threat mounted in the 4th inning. After being staked to a 2-0 lead on three Lady Bulldog errors, Creswell rallied against Hanson, who had pitched three innings of no-hit ball. A lead off double, an infield hit, and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs. Hanson settled down and struck out the next batter, surrendered a single run on a fielder's choice ground out, and then struck out the final batter of the inning to snuff out the rally and hold the lead. Creswell would not threaten again.
The Lady Falcons' bats were slow to warm up, aided by some questionable umpiring that vexed both teams. However, Elmira erupted in the sixth inning when they got a run on a lead off homer by Ashley Feltz who crushed a line drive deep over the left field fence. After a walk and a hit batter, Carly Grossmiller cashed both runners in with a sharp 2-run single to make it 5-1. Feltz played add on in the 7th, when she rapped an RBI single, scoring Cheyanne White who led off the last inning with a hard double.
The story of the game though wound up being Hanson's complete control of the game. After putting down the Creswell rally, she gave up no hits, scattering two in the game. Hanson was 17 of 25 on first pitch strikes and has 24 strike outs already this season.
The Lady Falcons will participate in the Sandy Softball Tournament next week. Any parents who are attending the tournament feel free to share photos for publication and photo credits.
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