Streaking Falcons Make Postseason Push in Softball

After suffering a dismal pounding from third ranked Junction City two weeks ago as well as the loss of JV pitcher Imari Gabica to injury, the Lady Falcons softball team found themselves at 11-7 and outside the possibility of the play in games.  Ah... what a soothing balm a 5 game winning streak can be. 

Coming off the deck from the bludgeoning that the Lady Tigers took to them, Courtney Haffner took the rubber against Cottage Grove on the road and was spectacular going all the way in a shortened 5 inning game.  Haffner wound up giving up a stingy 2 hits and collecting 8 strikeouts with her baffling off speed pitches.  76% of Haffner's pitches went for strikes.  Meanwhile, Maranda Hanson and Ashley Feltz both homered as part of a brutal 16 hit attack that also feasted on 8 Lady Leo walks as Elmira punished Cottage Grove 19-0.

Elmira then pulled off a stunning road upset of Thurston 11-10.   Hanson got the win and needed to pitch her best because her teammates committed 5 errors, 3 in the second inning that helped stake Thurston to an early 5-1 lead.

But the Lady Falcons' murderer's row answered in the top of the third.  Hanson doubled, followed by  Feltz, who also doubled, scoring Hanson in front of her.  Then Cheyenne White crushed a 2 run homer over the left field fence scoring Feltz and drawing Elmira within one. 

In a back and forth contest by two heavyweight teams, Elmira wrestled the lead away for good in the sixth inning when Madison Wisner walked to open the inning enabling the top of the order to come to the plate.  After a Carly Grossmiller ground out,  Hanson doubled again, scoring Wisner.  Back to back doubles by White and Josie Dickson gave the Falcons a lead they would never loose.

Hanson then took control winning the next three consecutive games including a sweep of a road double header against Marshfield 16-9 and 7-3.  Dickson jolted a 3 run homer in the first inning to set the table for Hanson's win. 

Finally, Hanson was again solid in a final road win against Siuslaw.  She gave up only 1 earned run, going the full 7 innings and tallying 12 Ks in the 12-1 victory.  The win saw Carly Grossmiller step up as the offensive hero, moving into the lead off position and going 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored.

So now it comes down to Friday, May 10, as 8th ranked Marist comes in with a 20-3 mark in virtual tie with Junction City for the league championship.  Both teams are assured of a playoff spot.  A sweep of the Lady Pirates would almost guarantee that Elmira would probably rise in the rankings and secure a home field play in game next week.  A split will probably keep them in the remaining top 8 in 4A.  Two losses could spell an early summer for the softball this year.

Gabica Rolls to First Win of Doubleheader; Falcons Almost Stumble in Nightcap

Imari Gabica was splendid as an off the bench starter scattering 2 hits and striking out 7 as Elmira's softball team cruised to an easy 13-1 victory over lowly Siuslaw, Thursday April 11 at Elmira High School.  Gabica received more than enough help as Carly Grossmiller, from her 9 spot in the order, rang up 4 hits and 4 RBI's as the Lady Falcons raised their record to 10-4 on the season

The second game however was a completely different story as star pitcher Maranda Hanson found herself in jam after jam to the Lady Vikings as Siuslaw was spotted a 5-run lead after 3 and half innings.  However, Siuslaw pitching found the going no smoother than Hanson did.  Vikings' pitcher Nina Aaron was blistered by Falcon hitters as they rocked the junior hurler for 17 hits including Ashley Feltz's fifth home run of the season.  Feltz was 3 for 5 in the game with 3 RBIs.  It spelled a raucous and unlikely 11-10 squeaker over Siuslaw to sweep the double header. 

Despite rallying for 6 runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Siuslaw took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Hanson walked the lead off batter, the pitcher's nemesis.  Pinch runner Angela Bartlett advanced to third on a fielder's choice and an error by Feltz.  Lita Figueroa cashed in the walk and error by slapping a single into center field to tie the game at 10. 

The Lady Falcons rallied again in the bottom of the inning.  Sarah Stout crushed a double into the center field alley, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Deja Rhodes singled into center.  Hanson then retired the side in order to set all things right again. 

Still it was the Elmira bats that carried the day.  The 24 runs scored in the double header made the Lady Falcons the sixth highest scoring team in 4A so far this season.  The road ahead does not get easier.  Up next for 11-4 Elmira is a road test against sixth ranked Marist Catholic.  A victory would thrust Elmira into the playoff conversation in a visceral way with a 4 more games with Marist and league leader Junction city; two double headers that will be played here at Elmira High School.  That is if the Lady Falcons can avoid stubbing their toes against the lower tiered teams in the second half of league play.

Lady Falcons Maul Marshfield then Get Thumped by 6th Ranked Sweet Home

Elmira's softball team extended their win streak to three games with a third consecutive 5 inning decision, this one a workmanlike 12-2 victory over visiting Marshfield.  Unlike the previous two games, this wasn't decided until a rally in the fifth garnered the 10 run advantage to end the game.  Ashley Feltz continued to have the hot bat, hitting a laser beam line drive home run in the first inning and having a sparkling 4 for 4 afternoon with 4 RBIs.  Maranda Hanson picked up the victory going the shortened distance giving up 2 runs on 3 hits including a home run to Marshfield's Sterling Williams.  The win was Elmira's third straight.  In that span the Lady Falcons outscored their opponents 64-4.

However, the quality of opponent stepped up as the Lady Falcons played a make up road game at 6th ranked Sweet Home, Wednesday April 17 at Sweet Home High School.  The game, sloppy at times, took on the air of a prize fight, with each team taking turns laying hay makers to each other.  There were 7 errors in the game.  An additional nuance to the game was a seemingly moving strike zone by the home plate umpire that took pitchers out of their game.  Hanson and Sweet Home's Ashtyn Walker, normally strong, strike out pitchers, both found their control inexplicably absent during the game.  Both teams pitching combined for nine walks.  

Leading 2-1 after one and a half,  the Lady Huskies batted around in the bottom of the inning, scoring 5 runs, aided by 2 walks, 2 errors and three singles.  Hanson got through the third undamaged which led to the Elmira retaliation in the fourth inning where the Lady Falcons tallied a six spot to tie the game at 7.  The big hit was a deep fly ball to center by Hanson who reached on an error by the Sweet Home center fielder scoring two runs.  Again, the huge rally was helped by 2 walks and 2 errors.

The Falcons couldn't hold the game however.  In the fifth inning, a Hanson mistake cost her.  A hit batter came around to score, along with a second run after three singles in the inning to make the score 9-7.  Elmira tried to rally in the sixth getting Carly Grossmiller and Ashley Feltz aboard but were shut down when Sarah Stroud went down swinging for the third out.  Three more singles in the bottom of the inning for the Lady Huskies added two runs to make it 11-7 and Elmira went quietly in the 7th inning to end the game.  

Siuslaw comes to town Thursday April 18 for a double header at Elmira High School.

Lady Falcons Roll to 3-0 Record, Seize #1 Ranking in 4A

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.

Lady Falcons Endure Two Savage Beat Downs

Last week wasn't kind to the Elmira Lady Falcons basketball team, outmanned at the outset by the absence of center Maranda Hanson.  Elmira found itself struggling mightily in its first road contest at Philomath where the Lady Warriors trounced Elmira 55-24 Tuesday December 11 at Philomath High School.  Cold shooting that plagued the Falcons in their opening night victory versus Sisters, reared its ugly head again against Philomath.  This was compounded by 20 turnovers and an anemic 3 for 18 shooting from the free throw line.

Elmira junior Megan Porter defends against Philomath's Emma Pankalla in the Lady Falcon's 55-24 loss on Tuesday December 11 at Philomath High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie

However, the biggest harbinger of doom for Elmira was Philomath big guard Sage Kramer who lit up the Falcon defense for 18 points most in the first half.

"For me the most disappointing part was the discipline of our defense," lamented Elmira head coach Ken Best in an email.

The lone bright spot was Carly Grossmiller who led Elmira, scoring 15 points often on aggressive drives to the Philomath basket.

Falcon's senior Carly Grossmiller attacks the rack for 2 of her 15 points in Elmira's loss to Philomath Tuesday December 11.
Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

"Carly is a constant burst of energy," said Best.  "She just wants to play and play hard and she doesn't let the swings of the game affect her emotionally.  The rest of our team needs to follow her example in that regard."

"Our mental preparation in the practices leading up to this game was not what it needed to be," explained Best.  "Our focus, effort, and attitude during the game was not what it needed to be.  I can tell you that our short practice on Wednesday and Thursday's practice after this game are two of the best we've had from a mental and physical standpoint."

Unfortunately, that didn't translate into a victory as the Lady Falcons traveled to Newport and were rudely hammered by the hosts by a cringe-worthy 69-18 count Friday December 14 at Newport High School.  The 51 point loss left Elmira with a 1-2 count on the young season with Sweet Home coming in next Tuesday for the opener of a double header.  The girls play at 5:45 and the boys take the floor at 7:15.

 

Lady Falcons Find True Grit; Come from Behind to Dump Sisters

Except for a sublime, impromptu moment, Elmira's girls basketball victory over Sisters was anything but a work of art.

"We have a long way to go in our execution, conditioning, and in a lot of our skill work," noted Falcon's head coach Ken Best in an email.  "But I was proud of how level-headed and focused we were."

Junior Maranda Hanson towers over three Sisters' defenders as well as Elmira's Megan Porter and Sydney Green to snatch a rebound in the Lady Falcons' 34-29 victory over the Lady Outlaws.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie

In a sluggish game where both teams shot horrendously, especially in the first half, Elmira's backcourt accounted for 61% of the Falcon's scoring, overcoming a first half deficit and pulling out a 34-29 victory in their season opener in the nightcap game, December 4 at Elmira High School.  Senior Sydney Green scored 11 points and Carly Grossmiller added 10 for the winners.

Second team 4A-Sky Em, all conference player Sydney Green goes up for an uncontested lay up in Elmira's 34-29 win over Sisters, Tuesday December 4.  Green led all Falcon scorers with 11 points.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie

Defense was the order of the day, especially in the second half where the Lady Outlaws were reduced to a meager 10 points in 16 minutes of play.  Led by defensive specialist Megan Porter, the Falcons regained the lead on the first possession of the second half and began to wear down the Sisters offense.

Elmira forward Megan Porter defends against Sisters' shooter Sydney Head in the Lady Falcons' opening night victory against the Lady Outlaws, Tuesday December 4.  Photo by Kimberly Lilly.

"Megan is the type of defender I can put on their point guard, their best shooter, or their best post," Best added.  "I trust her in every defensive situation."

The punctuation mark on the victory belonged to Cheyanne White, who provided the most scintillating, albeit inadvertent,  highlight of the night.  Breaking the Sisters press, White drove into the right side of the paint with the intention of scoring.  According to White, she realized that a defender was going to be in the way and chose to pass.  As the defender lunged, the pass bounced on a dime through the defender's legs and into the hands of the Falcons' Alexis White, who scored in one fluid motion.  It was one of three pivotal plays that sealed the victory for Elmira.

White got another assist to Porter who hit a transition lay-up.  With three minutes to play, White had a shot blocked but was able to tip it to Porter who found Green for an open baseline jumper.

"I liked our tenacity and effort," Best said.  "They kept their heads in the game and never panicked, and they seemed to having fun.  The part about having fun is important to me."

TRIBULATION TUESDAY: Three Elmira Teams go into Battle with Mixed Rusults.

All aspects of emotion and success were on display Tuesday September 25 as three Elmira squads  felt the joy and agonies of three different results.

Elmira and Cottage Grove Fight to a Draw

At Swartz Field, the boys' soccer team rebounded from a horrid 10-0 drubbing at the hands of Henley to wage a scoreless draw with Cottage Grove in the Falcons' first league contest of the year.

"I was actually very pleased with the game," head coach Ryan Chambers said in an email.  "Clearly, a win would have been nice but I felt the score was indicative of the game as a whole. It was very evenly matched and both teams played pretty well."

In one of the best defensive performances of they year, Chambers kept midfielder Riley Chambers back to patrol the middle, a strategy that flummoxed any sense of rhythm that the Lions' offense was trying to muster.  When Cottage Grove was able to pressure the goal, Jaden Palmer was laying in wait, rejecting 9 shots on goal, unofficially, and registering his third shut out of the season.

Elmira Volleyball Team Returns to Winning Ways

After absorbing a first set loss to upstart Suislaw, the Lady Falcons flexed their combined talents and won the final three games as Elmira rolled past the Lady Vikings 3-1 at Elmira High School, Tuesday September 25.  

Putting the first game behind, the Lady Falcons began to methodically carry out their game plan with Sydney Green leading the team in assists.  The beneficiaries of Green's generosity were Maranda Hanson who led the team with 11 kills and Carly Grossmiller who added 8 kills.

"It was a rough first set," commented Elmira volleyball head coach Sarah Wartenbee in an email.  "They finally started palying together and completing the plays that they are capable of.  It was nice to see."

The improvement is easy to see in the record.  After suffering a dismal rut, losing 9 consecutive sets the week before last to league opponents Marist, Junction City and Cottage Grove, The Lady Falcons have rallied to go 6-5 in sets in the last week.  This is just in time as Elmira has a road tilt with 10th ranked Marshfield, who despite being in second place in the league sport a sparkling 12-3 record going into the match.  

Lady Falcons fall at Cottage Grove

Elmira's girls' soccer team was equally scrappy as they stayed within two goals of the 11th ranked Lady Lions until the 10:00 minute mark of the second half before a third goal and a penalty kick late spelled a 4-0 loss.  

Elmira's Paige Reichenberger delivers a header in front of a Cottage Grove defender in the Falcon's 4-0 loss to the Lady Lions, Tuesday September 25 at Cottage Grove High School.  Photo Kimberly Lillie

"Cottage Grove has some very talented and fast players," noted Elmira girls' soccer head coach Rob Lee in an email.  "(they) were very aggressive getting after loose balls."  

The Lady Falcons fell behind on an inexplicable deflection off a corner kick snuck past the goal line.  However, Lee saw continued progress from his young team. 

"We defended very well most of the time," Lee said.  "(Goalkeeper) Andrah Cobb made some incredible saves to help keep the score where it was."

Goalkeeper Andrah Cobb fires the ball out of the Falcons zone during their game with Cottage Grove.  Elmira fell to the Lady Lions 4-0, Tuesday September 25 at Cottage Grove High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

Marist Catholic Rolls over Lady Falcons in Conference Opener

The 11th ranked Marist Lady Spartans finally began playing to their ranking, defeating a pesky Elmira squad 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, and 25-22).  It was the Spartans' first victory and raised their record to 1-5 on the season.

The Lady Falcons weren't able to make a serious run at Marist until the third game as the Lady Spartans kept Elmira at arms length in the first two games.   Senior Carly Grossmiller awoke in the third game sparking the Elmira rally with 6 kills.

The Falcons' Maranda Hanson goes up for a kill in Elmira's 3-0 loss to #11Marist Catholic at Elmira High School, Thursday September 13.  Photo: Kimberly Lillie 

Carly and Maranda (Hanson) had great games," head coach Sarah Wartenbee said in an email.  "My setters (Josie Dickson, Sydney Green, and Annie Carpenter) hustled tremendously and did an excellent job of taking control of the ball even if the first pass wasn't on point.  Azzy Lane did a great job serving, in the back row, and does everything that is asked of her"

However, the Falcons had no answer for 6-1 outside hitter Britney Duvall who dominated the second and third games with 9 kills in the final game including the final four Spartan points to send Marist to the shut out victory. 

Sophomore Josie Dickson serves as Mallory Bailey waits during the Falcons' 3-0 loss to Marist Thursday Septemeber 13.  Photo: Kimberly Lillie

"We have things to work on as a team and as individual team mates," Wartenbee explained.  "We have a lot of ability, but just need to put all the pieces together."