Non-league games a tune-up for Lady Broncos ahead of District Tournament

In a week that had no consequential games on the schedule, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos kept busy with a pair of non-league doubleheaders against 1A schools last week.

The Lady Broncos played host to the Riverside Rams on May 1, in what doubled as the team's Senior Day as well. And this year's crop of seniors went out on top, with LRS winning both games of the doubleheader 11-1.

The Lady Broncos offense got off to a hot start in game No. 1 of the doubleheader, scoring four runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning to go up 11-0. The Rams got one run back in the third inning, but it wasn't enough to avoid the 10-run rule, shortening the game to five innings.

Kaylin Olson drove in three runs and Tamera Wolf roped a double, while seniors Lacey Miller and Kelcee Carlson also had big games. Miller smacked another double in what has seemed like a year-long hit parade, while Carlson drove in three runs to help fuel the LRS offense.

Game No. 2 was more of the same, albeit the Lady Broncos offense didn't break out for a big inning until the end of the game. LRS had a modest 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, when the bats came alive to score seven runs and 10-run the Rams for a second consecutive game. Wolf had another big game, going 2-4 while driving in three runs.

Two days later, LRS traveled to Rockford to take on the Freeman Scotties in another non-league doubleheader. The Lady Broncos got out to a quick start in the first game, grabbing a 2-0 lead after one inning before being shutout offensively until the sixth inning. LRS scored one run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to catch up to Freeman, who went on to win 8-5.

LRS had just four hits in the game, but one of them was a home run from Miller, her third longball of the season. The Lady Broncos also committed four fielding errors, while Freeman committed two.

Freeman dominated in game No. 2 of the doubleheader, jumping out to a 10-0 lead before LRS got its first and only run in the third inning. Freeman would score six more runs in the fourth inning and would go on to win 16-1. The Scotties racked up 18 hits in the game, while the Lady Broncos hit four. LRS also committed four more errors, giving them eight errors on the day.

The Lady Broncos have nothing on the schedule this week, as they prepare for the Northeast 2B District Tournament. LRS, the South Division's No. 3 seed, will take on the Chewelah Cougars, the North Division's No. 2 seed, in Chewelah on May 14 in a loser-out game. First pitch is currently scheduled for 3 p.m.