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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2016)
28 Wednesday, May 11, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Tales from a Sisters Naturalist by Jim Anderson The Fryrear Curve photo by Jerry baldock Sofia Affatai makes the tag vs. Elmira. Outlaws turn in strong effort on the diamond By Tom Mauldin Correspondent They might not have a winning streak, but the Sisters High School’s youthful var- sity softball team continues to do three things: improve, battle injuries, and gain vast experience. “I keep seeing a lot of improvement, but we can’t get away from the injuries” said Coach Dave Smith. “We have so many young players just learning the game that with the injuries they end up being put in positions new to them. But they are learning the game quickly.” The Outlaws, 2-14 over- all and 2-11 in the Sky-Em League, will close out the season on Friday against Suthlerlin with a double- header at SHS beginning at 3 p.m. The Outlaws hope to end their seven-game losing streak. Losses last week were to high-ranked Sweet Home (23-0 and 19-0) and Junction City (13-2). While the scores were lopsided, the Outlaws collected 17 base hits, includ- ing eight in the 19-0 loss to Sweet Home. “The ladies did a great job putting the ball into play,” said Smith. “We just need to get better at placing the ball.” While Sweet Home, the No. 15 ranked 4A team in Oregon, was able to put together multi-hit rallies, the Outlaws spread their base hits over five innings. Leah McIntosh led the locals with two hits and junior Amanda Smith struck out seven. In the 23-0 loss to Sweet Home, Smith doubled, Kylie Steiner singled and Grace Maiden singled twice. Smith struck out six. “I have been moving a lot of players all around, and they have been adjusting,” said Smith. “The newer kids are getting a piece of them all.” Though the score might not have been indicative of the Outlaws effort against Junction City, it was one of their best efforts of the season as they hit the ball often. Smith led the way with two doubles and one RBI. McIntosh, Shauna Ferrell and Sarah Hartford also singled once, and Maiden drove in the Outlaws’ other run. Elmira (22-1), ranked No. 5 at the 4A level, leads the Sky-Em with a 12-1 record. The Fryrear Curve on Highway 20, between mile- posts 7 and 8 has been a thorn in the sides of Central Electric Co-op, Sisters- Camp Sherman RFPD, the Oregon State Police and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for many years, due to the wrecks that take place there. For those of us who live close to the curve it’s not uncommon to hear and watch emergency vehicles speeding down the highway, sirens blaring, blue and red lights blazing on their way to another wreck on that infamous curve. According to an ODOT spokesperson, over the past five years there have been seven crackups there, one of them fatal. ODOT signs on both sides of the curve do not accurately describe the roadway ahead. When asked about the failure of the signs to describe the upcom- ing curve, The Nugget was told there are many more curves on Oregon highways photo by JiM anderson Don’t you believe it! It’s not a straight road ahead, there’s a curve coming up! far more dangerous than Fryrear Curve. So the high- way signs we have are what we get. My wife and I were right behind Cody Herburger (who makes the best clam chowder in the world at Melvin’s in Sisters) when the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by a motorist coming the other way, who failed to negotiate the curve and hit him head-on. When the dust settled, Cody was trapped in his crushed vehi- cle; the other vehicle was on its back, and bystanders watched helplessly as the poor woman in the car died from her injuries. We saw the results of another motor vehicle a few months earlier that failed to make the curve and hit an old Suburban head-on that was parked off in the sage- brush with a “For Sale” sign in the windshield. About a month back, another power pole had to be replaced after a motorist failed to negotiate the curve and took it out. There is also no warning on the highway that Central Street in Sun Mountain is upcoming. Motor vehicles leaving the passing lane going toward Bend are most times at or over the 55- mile-an-hour speed limit. They make life very excit- ing for anyone living in Sun Mountain trying to get off or on Highway 20 — and you should try making a right turn onto Central Street with a vehicle riding your back bumper. According to Peter Murphy, spokesperson for ODOT, a major facelift is scheduled for the infamous Fryrear Curve in 2018. In the meantime, please tell any strangers you meet who are planning to travel between Sisters and Bend on Highway 20 to take their foot off the gas pedal as they approach Fryrear Curve, and keep an eye on the other guy coming your way. Gordon’s Last Touch Cleaning Specialists For… Carpets Upholstery Windows 541-549-3008 This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper in support of Deschutes Land Trust.
