Kodiak softball team earns solid wins over Wenatchee, Chelan, Okanogan

It was a busy week for the Cascade Kodiak fastpitch softball team with games against Wenatchee, Chelan and Okanogan. The Kodiaks played Wenatchee High School on March 27 at Sterling Middle School. 

It was a high scoring affair with the Kodiaks prevailing 14-13, thanks to a 6-run seventh inning. Cascade opened the scoring with a couple runs in the top of the first, thanks to four walks and an RBI single by Sarah Pickel. 

Wenatchee took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first on a hit, error and three walks. Cascade would take a 5-3 lead with three runs in the top of the second on singles by Sarah Paulson and Olivia Stoddard and a double by Pickel. 

The Panthers came right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to up 6-5. Wenatchee scored again in the third to go up 7-5. Cascade cut the lead to 7-6 in the fourth on a Pickel home run. 

Wenatchee would score single runs in the fourth and fifth to take an 9-6 lead. In the top of the sixth, the Kodiaks scored twice on a double by Truh Merriman and single by Stoddard, to cut the lead to 9-8. 

The Panthers matched again with two runs in the bottom of the frame to go up 11-8. In the seventh inning, Cascade erupted for six runs to take a 14-11 lead. The Kodiak hit parade included Paulson, Merriman, Pickel, Kaitlyn Craig, Whitney Wilkes and Madeline Scheifelbien.  

Wenatchee scored twice in the bottom of the seventh on three hits and an error, making the final 14-13. The tying and winning runs were on base when the final out was made. The Panther’s Shenan Jackson, who had hit a double in the previous inning, sent a long fly ball to center. 

Merriman made a game saving, diving catch to end the game. 

“This was a hard-fought game. We had to overcome some pitching and fielding mistakes today.  We used everyone today. This was truly a total team effort. It was good to see some players in different positions and contribute to the win,” Cascade Head Coach Ken Krous said. 

In the circle, Merriman pitched 2 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 3 hits, 3 strikeouts and 5 walks. Analia Vasquez pitched 3 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks. Sarah Paulson pitched 2 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 5 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks. 

Pickel had a big day, going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and 5 RBIs. Merriman was 2-for-3 with 4 runs, a double and an RBI. Scheifelbein was 2-for-4 with 2 runs. 

On March 28, Cascade hosted Chelan for their first home game of the season. It turned out to be a real pitching battle between Paulson and Chelan’s Taylor Sams. 

Chelan opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first on two Cascade errors. After a scoreless second inning, Cascade scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. Merriman doubled, Vasquez had an RBI and Sierra Bittle had a two-run homer. 

In the top of the fourth, Chelan tied the game at 3-3, thanks to a Katie Gleasman home run, a walk and a single. In the bottom of the fifth, freshman standout Merriman hit homer to deep center to give the Kodiaks a 4-3 lead. 

Cascade scored a couple insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 6-3. Andrea Sorensen walked and Schiefelbein singled, then Merriman had a 2-run double. 

Paulson faced the bottom of the order in the seventh, and took care of the Goats 1-2-3 as the Kodiaks won 6-3. 

“Paulson was excellent in the circle all game. She had 10 strikeouts and only gave up three hits and a walk. Paulson was able to keep the Goat hitters off balance most of the game.  This was a well-played game by both teams,” Krous said. 

Paulson pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits with 10 strikeouts and 1 walk. Sams pitched 6 innings, giving up 6 earned runs on 10 hits with 2 walks. 

Merriman had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with 2 doubles, a home run and 3 RBIs. Schiefelbein was 2-for-3 with a run. Bittle was 1-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBIs.   

Cascade completed a stellar week with a sweep at Okanogan on April 1. The Kodiaks erupted for four runs in the top of first in game one, thanks to two hits and three Bulldog errors. Cascade took at 6-0 lead in the second, thanks to a Merriman 2-run homer. It became a 7-0 lead in the third as another run came in on an error and single by Kaija Lovelady. 

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 7-1 with a home run in the bottom of the third. Okanogan cut the lead to 7-5 with four runs the bottom of the fourth on five base hits. The Bulldogs tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth. Cascade took the lead in the sixth thanks to a 2-run homer by Lovelady. The Kodiaks took a 10-7 lead with a run in the seventh on two more Bulldog errors. 

“That was enough for Paulson who was dealing in the circle. Paulson closed the door with five of her 14 strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings. We put pressure on their defense and kept the pressure on all game,” Krous said. 

Paulson pitched 7 innings, giving up 5 earned runs on 9 hits with 14 strikeouts and no walks. Lovelady went 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a home run and 3 RBIs. Pickel was 2-for-4 for a run, HR and 2 RBIs. Merriman was 1-for-4 with 2 runs, HR and 2 RBIs. 

In the second game, Cascade scored a run in the top of first on singles by Lovelady and Pickel. Okanogan took 2-1 in the bottom of the first on a walk and three singles. Cascade tied the score 2-2 in the second on a double by Scheifelbein and walk by Lovelday. The Bulldogs took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second on four hits and two Kodiak errors. 

Cascade took a 7-4 lead in the third on singles from Vasquez, Bittle, Soresen and double by Merriman. Okanogan cut the lead to 7-5 with a run in the bottom of the frame. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 7-6  in the fourth on a home run. 

The Bulldogs took a 10-7 lead in the fifth on five hits. It remained a 10-7 game into the seventh inning. The Kodaks loaded the bases in the seventh. Singles by Paulson and Lovelady drove in two runs to cut the lead to 10-9. 

A bases loaded walk to Merriman tied the game at 10-10. A Pickel groundout scored the go ahead run at 11-10. Paulson, who came on to pitch in the sixth, put down the Bulldogs in the seventh to preserve the sweep. 

“Another nail biter but also a great character game. The girls never gave in and kept battling the entire game,” Krous said

Vasquez pitched 2 innings, giving 3 earned runs on 7 hits with a walk and a strikeout. Merriman pitched 3 innings, giving up 5 earned runs on 7 hits with a strikeout and no walks. Paulson pitched 2 innings, giving up no runs, no hits, no walks with 3 strikeouts. 

Lovelady was 3-for-5 with a run. Pickel was 1-for-4 with a run and 2 RBIs. 

Cascade made up a rained out game at Ephrata on April 4. Results were not available before press time. On Friday, the Kodiaks host a double-header against Mount Baker. 

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.