‘Focused’ Saints rebound from loss, remain tied for first

This past week the Saints softball team went 4-1, defeating Clackamas Community College twice Saturday and splitting a doubleheader with Lower Columbia Community College Tuesday.

With the season in its final weeks, the Saints now stand at 23-4 overall and 7-3 in conference. MHCC is tied with Clackamas for first place in the Southern Region.

“Our team showed up to play against Clackamas,” said Head Coach Meadow McWhorter.  “We executed well at the plate and got the job done in the circle.

“We struggled a bit on defense.  We were focused on the next aspect of the play instead of focusing on the task before us,” McWhorter said. “We need to continue to slow the game down and focus on one thing at a time.  Our energy needs to be consistent, no matter our opponent.”

In Tuesday’s match-up, MHCC played a close first game with Lower Columbia before losing it in the seventh inning. Saints had hits up and down the line-up but could not drive in runs, which is a bit un-characteristic of the team.

Sophomore infielder Kali Van Cleave had three hits in four at bats. Sophomore outfielder Kylee Gasper hit a double in the second inning driving in a run. In the fifth inning, infielder Teauna Hughes hit a single to drive in another run. After that the team slowed down and ended with a 4-2 loss.

The team came back in game two, beating Lower Columbia 7-4. Three Saint players hit home runs, including Gasper, sophomore Maycee Abendschein, and freshman Bianca Hancock.

Sophomore Courtney McCarthy hit a double in the fourth inning. Sophomore pitcher Brittney Dawson got the win after giving up one run in four innings pitched. Dawson is now 7-0 on the season.

On Saturday, the Saints dominated Clackamas in both games, especially game one as freshman Ann-Marie Guischer had one of her best games of the season, pitching a complete game and striking out 11. She only gave up three hits.

Hughes hit a home run in the third inning, driving in two runs.

In game two, the Saints rallied. After being down by three, they scored six times in the sixth inning. McCarthy hit a three-run home run and Van Cleave doubled, bringing in three RBIs.

McWhorter, who played for Mt. Hood as a student, said MHCC players have to be focused and committed.

“Live in the moment,” she said.  “Their time here is so short and it flies by.  We train six months for a three-month season, so I want them to take it all in, learn from their struggles, and not only become better ballplayers, but people, too.  Play every game as if it were their last,” said McWhorter.

The team heads to Yakima, Wash., for the Crossover Tournament this weekend.  On Saturday the team will play Big Bend Community College at 9 a.m. and Douglas Community College at 1 p.m. On Sunday, the Saints play Bellevue Community College at 11 a.m. and Treasure Valley Community College at 3 p.m.

“We will play quality opponents every game, so we will need to focus on one game at a time,” said McWhorter.