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.

Falcon Boys Make a Statement Against Siuslaw

At 5-13, no one is going to mistake the Siuslaw Vikings with the Golden State Warriors.  However, it was important for the Elmira Falcons basketball team to show that their resurrection from an 0-5 start wasn't a fluke and that with the second half of the conference schedule on tap, they still could find themselves in the upper tier of the 4A Sky-Em Conference.  The Falcons took a step in that direction by eventually dismantling hapless Siuslaw 70-44 at Elmira High School, Tuesday, January 22.

Elmira guard Bryson Forsman goes up to dunk on a breakway as the Falcons overwhelmed Siuslaw 70-44, Tuesday, January 22 at Elmira High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

On first glance of the statistics, Elmira's poor shooting under 40% would be a cause for concern.  However, the new strategy was clear: bombs away.  The Falcons chucked up a season high 66 shots, converting 26 of them.  Three players scored in double figures for the Falcons.  Jacob Marr who only scored 5 points in the first half, rebounded to finish with 16.

Christian Davis fires up a 12 foot jumper... one of his 14 shots on the night... in Elmira's 70-44 victory over Siuslaw, Tuesday, January 22 at Elmira High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

Keagan Cook and Christian Davis were the primary bombardiers though, firing up 27 shots between them and scoring 14 and 11 respectively.  Paul Ossowski chipped in 7 points and got to the line twice. 

6-6 Jacob Marr posts up for two of his 16 points in the Falcons 70-44 victory over Siuslaw, Tuesday January 22 at Elmira High School.  Photo by Kimberly Lillie.

The victory left the Falcons 7-9 (1-3 in conference play) going into a Friday night tilt on the road against 4th ranked Marshfield.  It is the first of three games on the road, including a non conference tilt with Crow, before starting the second half of the conference schedule.  A victory over the Pirates in Coos Bay would be a staggering, but not unrealistic, expectation for Head Coach Nick Garman's team.  Considering their start, and the quality of their improvement since the beginning of the year, the story is still yet to be written.