Big Bend wraps up home schedule with tough losses
Alan Dale/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Big Bend's Jessica Wald (right) executes a sacrifice bunt during the Lady Vikings' game one defeat against Yakima Valley CC on Friday. Big Bend dropped both games of the twin-bill.
MOSES LAKE — Despite their continual improvement the Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings’ softball team still wants to make a bigger dent when it comes to Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) competition.
Yes, they have almost doubled last year’s win total and have improved in league play.
Regardless, following this weekend’s dual doubleheader loss in NWAACC play, coach Jeremy Iverson hopes to see his young squad to make more strides in the season’s final days.
On Friday the Lady Vikings (7-31, 3-19) dropped two to visiting Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) (14-24, 8-14) 10-1 and 10-5.
In the opener, YVCC chipped away with two runs in the third inning, one in the third, two more in the fifth, and put the game on ice with a five-run seventh.
Yakima’s pitcher Rachel Aimone limited Big Bend to six hits while the Lady Vikings hurt their cause with six errors.
Big Bend recorded five hits and scored their only run in the fourth inning when Amanda Martin singled, eventually ended up at third with two outs and came around to score on a Angelica Castaneda single.
The nightcap was a competitive affair as Big Bend led 4-3 after five innings.
YVCC broke out to a 3-0 lead through the first three frames but Big Bend tied the score in a three-run fourth inning.
Kalli Heller started the inning with a walk and advanced on a Brooke Vincent single but would be put out on a Castaneda fielders choice.
Then Crystal Mertes singled and Ali Hirschi walked.
Brittney Miller singled to bring in Vincent and then Jessica Wald doubled bringing in Castaneda and Mertes to tie the game.
In the fifth inning, Big Bend took the lead when Heller and Vincent singled and eventually the latter would score on a passed ball.
Leading 4-3 after five the Lady Vikings had all the momentum before Yakima’s big sixth inning, scoring seven times on seven hits and two key Big Bend errors.
On Saturday Big Bend played host to league leaders Wenatchee Valley Community College (32-7, 18-4) and lost both games 16-0 and 12-0.
No stats were made available.
“The weekend did not go like we wanted, but one thing maybe to talk about is that it was the last home games of the season, and it drove home that our sophomores are almost done,” Iverson said. “We have two sophomores this year in Amanda Martin, and Brandy Cole and it has been awesome to see these kids grow, and become leaders in their own ways. I have enjoyed them being a part of the program, and they definitely will be missed when we do finish up.
“I feel that one of the great things about coaching is the people you are able to meet, and how those people positively impact my life. I would not trade it for anything,” Iverson added.
Big Bend’s season will wrap up on the road with three NWAACC doubleheaders starting off on Friday when they travel to Ontario, Ore. to take on Treasure Valley (13-23, 8-14) Community College.
On Saturday they will kick off another doubleheader at noon against hosts Blue Mountain Community College (16-21, 9-13) in Pendleton, Ore.
They wrap up their season the following weekend when they travel to play the College of Spokane (17-21, 12-10) for their last two-game set of the year.