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 Soccer Rebound; Blank Sweet Home

When Head Coach Rob Lee’s Lady Falcons soccer team stumbled out of the gate with a forgettable 7-0 loss, he was optimistic that the growing process for the team was still assured, despite no senior leadership

“This is my 10th season as head coach and this is definitely the most inexperienced team,” Lee responded in an email. “However, “inexperienced” doesn’t mean “untalented”... we definitely have some great talent and there are multiple diamonds in the rough that I look forward to developing into future shining stars.”

Lee was proven right.

Kennady Laing scored twice and Megan Porter scored late to provide the frosting on the cake as Elmira blanked the Sweet Home 3-0 Thursday, August 31 at Elmira High School. The victory evened the Lady Falcons record to 1-1.

Shaking off a sluggish, scoreless first half, where goalkeeper Andrah Cobb fended off numerous first half shots on goal, the Lady Falcons wound up spending the bulk of the second half on the Lady Huskies’ end of the field as Porter led strong mid-field play that diffused the Sweet Home offense. It contributed to all three goals including Lainge’s two breakaway goals.

“Kennady Laing is a returning first-team all-league player, who is arguably the fastest girl in the league, let alone our team. Finding her with a ball in open space is deadly for any opponent,” Lee noted.
 
Elmira got their final score when, Porter, who dominated mid-field play in the second half, lobbed a 30 yard goal over the outstretched reach of Lady Husky goalkeeper Moira Curtis. It was Porter’s first goal as a varsity player. Lee was quick to praise his junior team co-captain.

Megan Porter battles a Sweet Home midfielder in the Lady Falcons' 3-0 victory

“Megan Porter has been a solid rock player the past two seasons as well. This is definitely her breakout year as all the other senior defenders graduated last season. She is fully capable of playing any position on the field and can strike from distance if given an opportunity.”

When asked about the 10 goal swing from the North Bend game to yesterday’s victory, Coach Lee was frank.

“North Bend was just a much better team and they overwhelmed us. I think the biggest progress from Tuesday to Thursday was just getting the first game under our belt. The girls finally saw and felt what it was like to play full field 11v11 on Tuesday and so by Thursday they were more prepared for it.”