Lady Broncos split high-scoring doubleheader against Davenport

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos softball squad found themselves in a high-scoring affair during its non-league doubleheader against the Davenport Gorillas on March 26, with a total of 58 runs being scored between the teams in just the two games.

The Lady Broncos and the Gorillas ended up splitting the doubleheader, with the Broncos losing the first game and winning the second. Due to still inadequate field conditions in Davenport, the games were held in Ritzville and LRS was the away team. The Lady Broncos now sit at 1-3 on the season (0-2 in league play).

In the first game of the doubleheader, Davenport built a 13-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh and final inning. But LRS rallied at the plate, reeling off eight runs to tie the game at 13 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. But Davenport was able to answer the big inning by the Lady Broncos with a walk-off wild pitch to win the game, 14-13.

Despite scoring 13 runs, sophomore Sadie Miller had the only extra-base hit for the Lady Broncos, a double. LRS had six hits in all, while Davenport hit two triples and two home runs to power its offense. Junior Cailey Vallone started her third consecutive game to start the season for LRS.

The second game of the doubleheader was just as hectic as the first game, as the Gorillas jumped out to a 9-4 lead over the Lady Broncos through the first three innings of play. LRS followed that up by scoring 13 unanswered runs to take a 17-9 lead into the seventh inning, and were able to hold off a Davenport comeback and win the game 17-14.

Sadie Miller continued her hot streak with the bat, piling up three hits and scoring four times to help lead the Broncos offense. Senior Lacey Miller and junior Tamera Wolf each hit doubles for LRS, while Vallone got her first win of the season in the pitcher’s circle. Lady Broncos head coach Todd O’Brien said it was good to see the bats come out and that his lineup was able to hit the ball well and often.

O’Brien said that Vallone is doing a good job of limiting free passes to opposing hitters, and said the defense is continuing to come around following a rough start to the season in the team’s losses to Colfax. LRS had two 1-2-3 innings defensively in their win over Davenport, their first 1-2-3 innings this season.

The Lady Broncos will be back on the diamond for a league doubleheader against the Asotin Panthers in Asotin on April 6. First pitch of game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m.

O’Brien said that the team will take some time off at the beginning of spring break, but plans on practicing his team hard before their doubleheader against Asotin on Saturday.