PREP SOFTBALL: WARDEN 7-12, Chelan 6-6

by Alan Dale<br> Herald Sports Writer
| March 22, 2011 6:00 AM

CHELAN - A trip north added up to playing up for the Warden Lady

Cougars softball team.

The Lady Cougars swept their hosts Chelan 7-6, and 12-6 to earn

their first two wins of the season.

Warden (2-1) led 4-1 early before the Goats tired things up at

4-4 in the fifth innings.

CHELAN - A trip north added up to playing up for the Warden Lady Cougars softball team.

The Lady Cougars swept their hosts Chelan 7-6, and 12-6 to earn their first two wins of the season.

Warden (2-1) led 4-1 early before the Goats tired things up at 4-4 in the fifth innings.

Then the Lady Cougars scored three in their next top frame and then held on for dear life as four errors kept Warden from putting away their opponents.

Iris Rodriguez pitched for the win, recording five strikeouts while also helping her cause with a 3-for-4 batting performance.

Elizabeth Pruneda batted 2-for-2, Hannah Bisnett went 3-for-4, Tawnie Gonsalez finished 2-for-3 and Narcy Guerra went 2-for-4.

"Chelan is traditionally a good team and we knew that we were going to have to play well," Warden head coach Wes Richins said. "Iris did a good job battling their batters and hit the ball very hard. I was really proud of how the girls ran the bases and had productive at-bats. In both games together, we had eight sacrifices. I don't think we had eight all year last year."

Rodriguez, Pruneda and Gonsalez all had two RBI.

In the nightcap, Warden banged out 17 hits and pulled away late from a 6-5 advantage over the last innings, including a three-run seventh.

Cassondra Platas pitched for the win, and the Warden offense was sparked by Gonsalez (4-for-4). Bianca Hernandez (4-for-5, three RBI), Rodriguez (2-for-4, two RBI), and Pruneda (2-for-5).

Platas also went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

"Cassondra surprised everyone except me with her pitching," Richins said. "She is our number two, but has worked hard on her velocity. She got hit hard a couple times, but over all she kept their batters off balanced. She is not going to strike out a ton, but she going to put the ball where she wants to and mixes up her pitches real well. This was the longest outing of her career and she did a heck of a job."

It didn't hurt Platas to see the Lady Cougars' bats get hot.

"Our bats also got rolling," Richins said. "It was nice to have everyone hit so well. Even on our outs, we hit it hard. The younger girls are really coming along,"