Warden overcomes gusting winds to take two from Connell
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden softball waits at home plate to congratulate Amanda Contreras on her 3-run home run against Connell.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden's Ashlyn Yamane reaches third base and eyes home against Connell.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden pitcher Jizelle Pruneda flips the ball to first base for an out against Connell.
WARDEN — It was spring sports in name only at Warden’s softball diamond Saturday afternoon.
Head coach Wes Richins spoke of his players’ inability to feel their hands through gusting winds throughout the doubleheader with Connell. Be that as it may, Warden overcame the elements to sweep Connell 10-7 and 9-0 to improve to 4-0 in the SCAC East.
“I knew that every ball hit was going to be an adventure,” Richins said. “We started the day that way, but we settled down and we had some girls that battled through the conditions. Games like this I believe will help us when it comes to playoff time, to battle through these things and find out who you are. Stay focused even though you can’t feel your hand.”
It took some time for starting pitcher Jizelle Pruneda to adjust to the unrelenting crosswind.
Pruneda surrendered a grand slam in the second inning of Game 1 that put the Eagles ahead 6-4. However, the Cougars found their stride as the game progressed.
“The wind really had a lot of stuff hanging,” Pruneda said. “I still fought through it to make it work.”
Pruneda helped her own cause with a 2-run home run and Lexy Gonzalez had two hits in the opener, beginning a 5-for-5 day for her.
Warden did not leave any doubt in Game 2.
Amanda Contreras hit a 3-run moon shot over the left field fence and Warden opened up a 5-0 lead after one inning, batting through the entire lineup in the process. In addition to Contreras’ homer, Aaliyah Escamilla scored on a double steal and Gonzalez poked an RBI single through the middle of the infield.
With plenty of breathing room, Pruneda went to work. The reigning SCAC East MVP struck out 10 on her way to a 2-hit shutout.
“After I threw the first game with the wind, I kept throwing it until I finally found a little motion that kept me going through throwing to the zone,” Pruneda said.
Bailey Whitney hit a 3-run double in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth to solidify the result.
“They (Connell) have some athletes,” Richins said. “Our eyes got woken up a little bit when they hit that grand slam and suddenly we’re losing ... After that inning, though, I think we only gave up one run the rest of the day.”
Highlights
Game 1: Pruneda 2-run HR; Gonzalez 2-2
Game 2: Pruneda 10 K; Whitney 3-4, 4 RBI; Contreras 3-run HR; Gonzalez 3-3