Cougars earn dominant victory over Goldendale in district tournament

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (13-8) earned a 14-0 victory over Goldendale in the first round of the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference tournament Tuesday afternoon. The Cougars now prepare for Friday’s games to determine their seeding for the 2B District 5 tournament. 

“It went well, pretty much like I thought it would,” said Cougars Head Coach Randy Wright. “It was a good tune (up) for Friday’s game against Kittitas.” 

The game started out slow as neither team scored in the first two innings. After holding Goldendale scoreless once again in the top of the third inning, Warden came up with 10 runs in the bottom of the third to claim a steep lead over the opposition.

Jamylex Pruneda hit a solo home run to left field to start things off and was followed up with two errors that scored three runs. Emmie Garza singled to score two runs, Allie Jensen doubled to score one run, Miranda Martinez doubled to score two runs and another error scored an additional run. 

The Cougars extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Pruneda doubled on a fly to score two, Amaya Erickson singled to score one and Lindsey Grubb singled to score one. After preventing any runs from Goldendale in the last two innings, Warden won the game 14-0. 

“We had to adjust to the pitcher, but once we got adjusted to what the pitcher was doing we started hitting the ball,” said Wright. 

Pruneda was a force on the mound for the Cougars as she struck out 12 batters while only allowing two hits, zero runs and zero walks over the five innings played. 

“She did really well,” said the Cougars coach. “She’s peaking at the right time.” 

As Warden prepares for the last few games of their league tournament, Wright said he wants the young team to stay active in their hitting this week and get mentally prepared to compete at a high level.  

“That’s the main thing. The mental side this time of year is important, so just making sure that they’re locked in and not overwhelmed by playoffs,” he said. 

The coach said as long as the Cougars are ready to compete, he expects them to do well as they make their way through the postseason. From what he has seen from the team this season, the coach is confident in their abilities. 

“They’re coming together as a team; they’re all getting along really good and that’s important,” said Wright. “They have good communication out there and everybody’s on the same page.”  

Wright said the Cougars are very excited to head into Friday’s games as they get the chance to get back at Kittitas after falling to them 11-6 earlier in the season. Last time the teams met, Warden was down a few players due to injury and being on spring break, so the coach feels they have a solid chance at victory. 

“We feel good about going in this time fully staffed and ready to take them on,” he said. 

The Cougars head on the road Friday to Kiwanis Fields in Yakima to play against Kittitas at noon. The loser of that game will play again at 2 p.m. and the winner will play at 4 p.m. 

BOX SCORE 

GLDN: 0-0-0-0-0: 0 

WRDN: 0-0-10-4-x: 14 

    Miranda Martinez from the Cougars stands ready near the diamond to potentially catch a ball against Goldendale Tuesday afternoon.
  

    Allie Jensen steps up to bat for Warden during Tuesday afternoon’s game against Goldendale.
  

    Cougars player Amaya Erickson takes a swing at the Goldendale pitch during Tuesday’s league tournament game.
  

    Ariana Pruneda from Warden swings at the ball for a hit during the game against Goldendale Tuesday.
  

    Lindsey Grubb from the Cougars stands ready near third base as a Goldendale player steps up to bat Tuesday afternoon.