Cougars go 1-2 in three game series over the weekend

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (5-3) competed in a three-game series starting with an 11-1 victory over Lake Roosevelt Thursday afternoon then followed by a 4-10 loss to Adna and a 0-10 loss to Pe Ell-Willapa Valley. The Cougars entered the series determined to come back after falling in two games the weekend prior. 

“We wanted to come back stronger (Thursday) and win,” said Cougars player Jamylex Pruneda.  

In Thursday’s home game, the Cougars were the first on the board when Lindsey Grubb grounded out to score a run. Warden extended their lead in the bottom of the second with three runs off RBI doubles from Allie Jensen and Jamylex Pruneda while holding Lake Roosevelt scoreless. 

Grubb hit a double in the bottom of the third to extend the Cougars lead to 5-0 as the teams entered the fourth inning where Lake Roosevelt finally scored their first run of the game. Warden added two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth, which ended the game 11-1 on the 10-run rule. 

Amaya Erickson led the Cougars offensively scoring three runs with three hits at bat; she was followed by Addison Garza, who had three RBIs and scored a run of her own. Jamylex Pruneda started on the mound for the Cougars where she surrendered four hits and one run over six innings, striking out seven and walking three. 

“I think we had better communication this game and worked well as a team,” said Erickson. 

The Cougars Miranda Martinez said the team did better at bat than before and picked up the pace as the game came along. Defensively, she felt the team also had a solid performance. 

Cougars Head Coach Randy Wright said the team did a great job in Thursday’s game as they fought through injuries and had players out for spring break.  

The Cougars hit the road early Friday morning for their games against Adna and Pe Ell-Willapa Valley. The Cougars coach said he was pleased with his team for being ready to head on the road at 5 a.m. to make their competition the next day. 

“Nobody whining, they had a good attitude about it they (were) ready to play,” said Wright. “Attitude and the approach you take when you go into a game is important.” 

The Cougars players said despite the early start to their day, they wanted to be prepared to utilize their teamwork and communication against two strong opponents. 

In the first game of Friday afternoon, Warden faced Adna and both teams scored a run in the first inning as Jamylex Pruneda slammed a solo home run to score for the Cougars. Adna put up three runs in the second inning and the Cougars responded with three of their own in the top of the fourth, but Adna held Warden scoreless for the remainder of the game. 

With Adna adding four in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars fell 4-10. 

Warden struggled to get going against Pe Ell-Willapa Valley as the opposition earned a five run lead in the top of the first inning and extended their lead to 6-0 in the second inning. Jamylex Pruneda and Erickson both collected one hit each for the Cougars as the opposition extended their lead in the fourth and fifth innings and ended the game on a 10-run rule. 

“I think it’s going to help us improve in spots that we have,” said Martinez. “It’ll be a learning experience.” 

Gabriella Pruneda from the Cougars said that the key to their success will be for the team to stay positive, cheer each other on and keep their heads up no matter what the outcome is. 

Wright said this season, Warden has a very young team with about five eighth graders stepping into starting roles, but each of those girls have come along and matured as the season progressed. Playing two tough teams like Adna and Pe Ell-Willapa Valley is something that will help the team down the road as the younger group gains more experience to prepare for postseason play. 

“They’re good kids and they’re making improvements, and there’s a good core of seniors, so that helps,” he said. “They mature off of that.” 

The seniors from Warden have instilled a good attitude across the team as they focus on their approach into every game, said the coach. 

“For as much talent as you have, you’ve got to have a good mindset,” said Wright. “That’s really important, and it makes them come together as a team.” 

Warden’s softball players said they are feeling confident about how the season has gone so far with the addition of the eighth-grade players. 

“We thought it was going to be hard to adjust starting the season, but all of us were surprised that all the eighth graders are really experienced, so it’s been really easy,” said Jamylex. 

The upperclassmen said they noticed how quickly the young players stepped up to the challenge and have put in the work at practice to help the team succeed.  

“I think everyone’s improving and working well together so far, so hopefully we can keep it up,” said Erickson. 

The Cougars return home Tuesday to face DeSales for a doubleheader with the first game starting at 3 p.m. 

BOX SCORES 

GAME ONE 

LKRS: 0-0-0-1-0-0: 1 

WRDN: 1-3-1-0-2-4: 11 

GAME TWO 

WRDN: 1-0-3-0-0-0-0: 4 

ADNA: 1-3-4-0-0-2-x: 10 

GAME THREE 

PWVT: 5-1-0-3-1: 10 

WRDN: 0-0-0-0-0: 0 

    Miranda Martinez from Warden steps up to bat against Lake Roosevelt Thursday afternoon.
  

    Amaya Erickson from the Cougars makes a hit and prepares to run during Thursday’s game.
  

    Warden’s Allie Jensen rushes to home plate to score a run in the final inning of Thursday’s game against Lake Roosevelt.
  

    Cougars player Addison Garza throws the ball back toward the diamond from the outfield during Thursday afternoon’s game against Lake Roosevelt.
  

    Ariana Pruneda from the Cougars throws the ball to first base for an out against Lake Roosevelt Thursday afternoon.