Lady Broncos sweeps Tekoa-Rosalia in doubleheader

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Lady Broncos softball team gained some momentum on April 24 when they swept Tekoa-Rosalia in a rescheduled Northeast 2B South League doubleheader, winning 19-2 and 17-0.

The Lady Broncos began game one with a strong lead, scoring nine runs in the first two innings, including a home run by Emily Rosen. LRS added four runs in the third inning, including a home run from Emma Aldrich, followed by six runs in the fourth.

The Lady Broncos continued their momentum in game two, scoring nine runs in the second inning. LRS added an insurance run in the third inning followed by six more in the fourth inning.

Tessa O’Brien went 6-for-7 for the day, Mercedes Miller was 3-for-5 and Rosen was 4-for-7.

Hailey Ayers earned the win in game one, striking out six batters. Cailey Vallone-Boettcher pitched up the pitching win in game two.

Head Coach Todd O’Brien said many of the Lady Broncos’ runs came from TR’s bullpen walking several LRS batters, but the Lady Broncos also hit the ball well at the plate.

He noted the Lady Broncos’ defense also played well in both games.

On April 27, the Lady Broncos lost a nonleague game to Northeast A League’s Freeman, 22-12, in what O’Brien described as a “wild game.”

The Lady Scotties opened with a five-run lead, then added five in the third and three in the fourth.

Down 13-2 in the fifth inning, the Lady Broncos made seven consecutive hits that scored five runs to stay in the game. LRS added five more runs in the sixth inning to bring the score 15-12.

Freeman answered with a rally, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to force the 10-run mercy rule.

Aldrich led the Lady Broncos with three hits, including a home run. Tessa O’Brien had two hits with a triple while Alisha Baker added two hits with a double.

Ayers took the loss in the Freeman game after she shared the mound with Vallone-Boettcher.

O’Brien said Lady Broncos hit the ball well, but noted the team committed some defensive errors early in the game. He thought LRS played well, especially against an A Classification school like Freeman.

The Lady Broncos, who are 3-5 in conference play and 7-7 overall, began the last week of the regular season on May 1 with a rescheduled league doubleheader against Reardan.

O’Brien said when the two teams first played on April 7, LRS was leading 3-0 in the first inning until the game was rained out. He added the Lady Broncos will have a 3-0 lead when they resume the game against the Lady Indians.

O’Brien said if LRS wins one of the games against Reardan, they will automatically qualify for the NE 2B League playoffs.

If the Lady Broncos lose both games in the doubleheader, O’Brien said the team will have to play a loser-out game in order to advance to the postseason.

After their series against Reardan, LRS will play Wilbur-Creston in their final home doubleheader of the season on Thursday, May 3.

The team will travel to Colbert to play Northwest Christian in a nonconference doubleheader two days later.