Lady Falcons Soar into the Playoffs

Josie Dickson has at times played in the shadow of hitters like Ashley Feltz and Maranda Hanson.  However, it was her turn to shine in the spotlight as she went 3 for 3 at the plate, harvesting 4 RBIs and scoring a run as the Elmira rebounded from late season losses to punish Newport 11-1 in the five inning play in contest.  The Lady Falcons return to the play offs with a first round date on the road Wednesday May 22 at third ranked Banks.

Ashley Feltz chipped in two hits and two RBI's as well as a sacrifice. 

Newport never was in the game, falling behind 7-0 before tallying a single run on a double by Kalea Blodgett.  They struggled because the hard throwing Hanson never let them off the mat. Hanson twirled a glistening one hitter, giving up only the double to Blodgett and that single run.  She did throw 4 walks, one of which scored and only threw four strikeouts.  However, she never seemed threatened and was playing with house money with a 7 run lead. 

While Banks is the third ranked team in the state they have endured six losses this season and are by no means an unbeatable team, especially if  Hanson is in a groove and the top of the batting order gets some support from rest of the line up.  The boys baseball team will open the playoffs the same day at Banks.  First pitch for the girls is 4PM Wednesday.

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.

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."