SOFTBALL SEASON SLIDES ON
THE COUGARS SORBALL TEAM LOOKS AHEAD ARER A SHAKY START
TO SOUTHERN REGION SCHEDULE
BY EDGARD VALENCIA
Grass is green once again and the birds are back. Sunny
days and Clackamas Com m unity College softball are
finally in the forecast.
This season, the Cougars hope to build from last
year’s success, where they finished third in the NW AC
tou rn am ent and w ere crow ned Southern Region
champions.
With 12 out of 17 in the roster being new faces, head
softball coach Jessica Buel know s it w o n ’ t be easy
repeating the same success from last season.
“ We pretty much have a brand new team this year,
so the results o f last yea r’ s team don’ t have m uch
relevance,” Buel said. “ Our goal every year is to continue
to improve, with the ultimate goal of winning an NW AC
title.”
The new additions seem to have quickly adapted to the
playing style of their coach, as the Cougars have started
the season 22-7. They sit second after a shaky start in
the Southern Region at 3-3.
The Cougars opened up region play with double header
losses at home to Lower Columbia but bounced right
back against Mt. Hood Community College by winning
both games in opponents’ home ground.
With a new opportunity to get their first region play
win at home, the Cougars took on Chemeketa Community
College in a thrillin g double header. Two returning
players and 2015 Region All-Stars put the team on their
shoulders in the first game.
Sophomore Kylie Gonzales had three RBIs including
the gam e-w in n in g hom e run earning the w in 4-1.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Marchbanks struck out seven,
guiding the path for the Cougars win where she only
allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks in
seven innings.
Things didn’t go so well for the Cougars in the second
game. After a two-run first inning, things tumbled down
for the rest of the game. Freshman pitcher Ceidilee
Nobriga allowed six runs in 6 2/3 innings, striking one
Hannah Vandomelen steals second base in the bottom of the sixth inning
against Chemeteka on Tuesday, April 12.
6 Clackamas Print APRIL 20.2016 thedackamaspnnt.com
and walked four. Gonzales had two RBIs on two hits, but
her contributions weren’t enough as they got outplayed
which led to Chemeketa winning the second game 6-3.
Gonzales who was named Southern Region First Team
All-Star last season leads the Cougars in HR with 9 and
RBIs with 39 in 29 games so far. She is well in track to
surpass her stats from last year as she had 11 HR and 51
RBI’s in 45 games.
“ Our goal every year is to continue
to improve, with the ultimate
goal o f winning a NWAC title”
-Jessica Buel
“ My mindset coming into this season was to be the
best and most successful player I can to help my team be
successful,” said Gonzales. “ What motivates me are my
coaches and my teammates because they believe in me. ”
Southern Region Second Team A ll-Star last season
pitcher Marchbanks has also started the season in a very
good way. Her 10 wins (fifth in NWAC), 84 strike outs
(fourth in NWAC), and 3.21 earned run average (ninth
in NWAC) have been fundamental in how the season
has been so far for the Cougars.
Another player to keep an eye on is freshman Katie
Rose who has adapted w ell to the college playing style
and leads the Cougars with a batting average of 0.452
along w ith 28 hits and 18 RBI’ s in 17 games.
“ Hitting college has motivated me even more because
when you hit college you realize that it’s going to end
within the next three to four years years,” Rose said.
“You have to take advantage of the friends you make
along the way, the playing time, and even just the journey
along the w ay.”
The Cougars traveled to Yakima, Wash, last weekend
for the Crossover Tournament in w hich they played
four games in two days. After a big first game defeat
to Douglas College by a score of 10-2, the team made
adjustm ents and w on all of their rem aining gam es
which included convincing wins against Yakima Valley
(16-4), Blue Mountain (i4“ 9), and a close one against
North Idaho (3-2).
The Cougars now turn their attention back to region
play as they will visit Clark College on Saturday, April 23.