Lady Broncos fastpitch falls to Freeman in season opener

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos fastpitch softball team had a busy first week of competition with a jamboree at home on March 13, followed by a 12-5 nonleague loss to Northeast A League’s Freeman two days later.

During the jamboree, LRS played two innings against Northeast 2B League Colfax and Northwest Christian (NWC), as well as Freeman.

Head Coach Todd O’Brien said it was the first time the Lady Broncos participated in a jamboree.

He was pleased with how the LRS pitchers performed during the event. O’Brien noted Emma Aldrich started for the Lady Broncos against Colfax, and for the first inning against NWC.

Hailey Ayers was on the mound during the second inning against the Lady Crusaders and the first inning against Freeman. Cailey Vallone-Boettcher pitched during LRS’ second inning against the Lady Scotties.

O’Brien said he moved players into different infield and outfield positions throughout the day. As for hitting, he said the team started slow at the plate, but their hitting improved as the day progressed.

The jamboree was also an opportunity for LRS to play Colfax and NWC, before the regular season games. O’Brien noted they are two of the top teams in their respective conferences.

Forty-eight hours later, the Lady Broncos returned to the field to play the Lady Scotties.

Freeman jumped to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, then added four more runs in the second inning. The Lady Scotties added two runs in the fifth inning to boost their score 10-0.

LRS, who trailed by 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth, prevented the game from ending early after Laurel Hayes’ single brought Tessa O’Brien to home plate to give the Lady Broncos their first run of the day.

The Lady Broncos added three more runs in the inning, including a two-RBI single from Aldrich.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Freeman added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning. The Lady Broncos’ comeback was limited to one run in the bottom of the seventh.

Tessa O’Brien was 2-for-3 for the day while Aldrich was 2-for-4. Alisha Baker was also 2-for-4 with one RBI. Mercedes Miller was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Alarah Pierce-Pulliam was 1-for-4.

O’Brien said the Lady Broncos struggled at the plate, which he credited to nerves, especially with it being the team’s first game of the season.

He added players will need focus on being patient at the plate and adjusting to pitches as they move forward.

As for defense, O’Brien said players need to stay in their assigned positions and not move out of their spots.

Aldrich took the loss on the mound and threw for the first three innings. She was relieved by Hailey Ayers in the third inning.

O’Brien said he was pleased with how Aldrich and Ayers threw a lot of strikes, and kept base on balls to a minimum.

On March 23, the Lady Broncos JV squad hosted Moses Lake’s C team. O’Brien said the game is an opportunity to provide the younger LRS athletes some experience against a competitive team from a large school.

He is looking forward to seeing how the Lady Broncos apply what they learned in practice.

The Lady Broncos will travel to Rosalia on March 24 to face the Lady Timberwolves in their first league doubleheader of the season.

O’Brien said the team will spend practice focusing on fundamentals and their defense. The team will also practice some live pitching drills the day before they travel to Rosalia.