Lady Broncos fall to Springdale in first round of District Tournament

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos suffered a loss to Springdale for the first round of the District Tournament on Tuesday, May 9, in Ritzville.

Head Coach Todd O’Brien said the reason for the loss is hesitation up to bat and inconsistency on the mound.

Springdale started the game strong as they made solid contact with the ball on offense. O’Brien said the Lady Broncos struggled to find consistency on the mound, which allowed the Lady Chargers to fill the bases.

The Lady Chargers claimed an early lead of 6-0 off three hits and four walks in the first inning.

He stated Springdale showcased strong defense as well, as they were quick to make plays and tag runners before they could score. Springdale’s outfield made multiple good plays, preventing the Lady Broncos from scoring runs.

O’Brien said the impressive plays affected the game’s momentum and boosted the Lady Chargers confidence. With newfound energy, Springdale continued to increase their lead and put pressure on the Lady Broncos, he added.

O’Brien said nerves affected the Lady Broncos’ ability to make contact on offense and they made multiple mistakes on the base paths. He emphasized the importance for the team to remain mentally strong while under pressure.

He said the Lady Broncos’ pitchers continued to struggle to find the strike zone and allowed 11 walks during the game. The free bases allowed the Lady Chargers to remain ahead and score unearned runs, said O’Brien.

Emily Rosen had a successful day at the plate as she claimed a single, double and a triple. Lacey Miller had two hits. Emily Kinney, Hannah Brittain and Tessa O’Brien had one hit each.

Springdale remained strong on defense and claimed the win in four innings with the score 15-3.

The Lady Broncos will need to win their next three games in order to advance to the next round of playoffs due to the loss.

O’Brien said he expects the team to compete well and showcase improvement in overall skill because the Lady Broncos have defeated the three teams they are scheduled to play in the regular season.

The Lady Broncos faced Reardan on Wednesday, May 17, at Franklin Park in Spokane. Prior to the game O’Brien said they anticipated fast and accurate throws from Reardan’s pitcher. The team practiced live hitting in practice to prepare to face the Reardan pitcher as well as remaining strong under pressure.

“We need to put together some good softball in all three aspects of the game, hitting, fielding and pitching,” he explained.

If the Lady Broncos continue to play at their full potential, O’Brien said he believes they will be successful this week.