Cascade blasts Ephrata in non-league softball action
Rodney Harwood/Columbnia Basin HeraldEphrata second baseman Maggie Buchert (4) makes a diving attempt to stop a ground ball as Tiger first baseman Brooke Bazaldua looks on during Tuesday's non-league game with Cascade.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldEphrata right fielder Mikayla Wood takes a swing at a pitch during Tuesday's non-league game with Cascade.
EPHRATA — Becca Helsley roped a single to right-center field, rounded first base and kept going, trying to make something happen. The Tiger third baseman was thrown out at second base to end the game, but at least she went down swinging in Tuesday’s 16-1 non-league loss to Cascade.
It’s been that kind of season for the young Tigers (3-4). On Friday they beat East Valley for the first time in 15 years. Four days later, they’re back to kicking the ball around with 10 errors in their fourth loss of the season. But they are making progress one step at a time.
“We’re more of a team than we were in the beginning,” said Helsley, who was 2-for-2 on the day. “We have our good days and our bad days. Today was a bad day. We just need to keep our heads up and keep playing hard.”
On the up side, it was an non-league, make-up game that got snowed out in March. It’s not so much that they don’t care, it’s just one of those games you write off hurry in order to get ready for Saturday’s CWAC twin bill on the road in Grandview.
“The progress has been good until today’s error-fest,” Tiger coach Heather Wood said. “I guess you have to have one game like this.”
Helsley had two singles, Maggie Buchert had another, Mikayla Wood scored the run, but other than that it was a day to forget.
Helsley broke in her new Mizuno Nighthawk bat with a big afternoon at the plate.
“It’s a lot lighter than my other one,” said Helsley, who hits third in the lineup. “I get around quicker. I felt good today. I’d definitely give this bat an A-plus, it was great.”
They’re a team looking forward, but they should take time to reflect on a memorable game with East Valley and their first win over the Red Devils since 2002. It was the first time a Heather Wood-coached team had beaten East Valley.
The Tigers came from four runs down to win 5-4. Ephrata scored four runs in the sixth inning and the game-winner in the seventh for a big CWAC win on the road.
“Friday was a great area of improvement and we saw some great things happen,” Heather Wood said. “I didn’t realize how big it was for us until I thought about it. That was the first time I’ve ever beaten East Valley and I’ve been coaching at Ephrata since 2002.”
It was the first Tiger win in 29 tries and the Red Devils (5-2, 5-1 CWAC) first conference loss of the season.
As for Cascade, it’s already a blur and a game forgotten for a team currently sitting fifth in the CWAC. Ephrata travels to Grandview on Saturday.
Score by innings
Cascade 1 3 5 3 4 - 16
Ephrata 1 0 0 0 0 - 1
Hits: Becca Helsley 2, Maggie Buchert 1