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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2019)
A8 WEDNESDAY April 10, 2019 OUTLAW GIRLS BRING THE HEAT Emerge victorious over Burns/Crane Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Wallowa Valley Cubs pitcher, Lexie Gassett, is already racking up the wins this season. The Cubs twice defeated Burns / Crane in its league opener on Friday, April 5. The integrated Wallowa Valley softball team opened league play on a high note with a pair of away victories versus Burns/ Crane on Friday, April 5. The fi nal results for the double header contests were 14-4 and 22-10. Senior Lexie Gassett pitched the fi rst game, painting the edges of the batters box, while giving up only three hits while mowing down fi ve Hilanders. Offensively, Gassett helped her cause by going 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Sam McFarland was 2 for 3 with an RBI while Claire Farwell went 1 for 2 with three RBIs. “These were not ideal conditions,” coach Gary Gassett said. “It was really cold and windy, but it didn’t rain until the very end. Not a good day for pitchers.” The second game saw more of the same. The Hilanders were put to the sword by a score of 22-10 in a six-inning battle that was shortened by the rain. “It was going to be shortened anyway because of the score,” Coach Gassett said. Gassett again started the second game and pitched 2 2/3 innings, securing the win with two strikeouts. Freshman Liz Row- ley came in on relief to pitch the remain- der. She fanned four and gave up four hits and four runs. In what can only be described as an extraordinary afternoon for Farwell, who scored three runs though going 0 for 0 for the day at the box in fi ve trips to the plate. She walked four times and was hit by a pitch on her fi nal trip to the plate. Rylin Kirkland had the team’s best day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. She crossed the plate four times herself. Rowley was 3 for 5 with fi ve RBIs and a base-clearing triple while scor- ing three times. Five different players suf- fered after being hit by misfi re pitches. “It wasn’t a good day for anybody,” Coach Gassett said. “When the pitcher doesn’t have much control, you really don’t want to go up to bat.” The Wallowa Valley girls are 2-0 in league play and 5-2 overall while ranked eighth in the state, according to OSAA. Wallowa Valley baseball opens season with twin wins Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain The integrated Wal- lowa Valley/Elgin baseball team swept in an away dou- bleheader against a united Burns/Crane crew on Fri- day, April 5. Coach JR Col- lier said the game was won by stellar pitching and con- sistent, if not overwhelm- ing offense, particularly by brothers Gus and Zeb Ramsden. Wallowa Valley blazed past Burns in the opener, outscoring their opponent 4-1 behind the pitching of Coy Aschenbrenner, who struck out one and walked three through 4 innings. Trace Evans came in for the save, pitching the fi nal three innings with three strikeouts and no walks. “Our pitchers are good at hitting their spots,” Col- lier said. “When hitters put the ball in play, our pitchers trust their defenders behind them.” The team scored runs in the fi rst, second, fi fth and seventh innings for the win. The two brothers, Gus and Zeb Ramsden, led the team with the bats. Each brother went 2 for 5 at the plate, and Gus Ramsden gar- nered three steals throughout the contest. “When we get runners on base, we tend to move them around to score,” Collier said. “It wasn’t a huge offen- sive production, but it was enough.” The run in the fi rst inning came when the two broth- ers--Gus Ramsden lead- ing off and his brother fol- lowing suit--each knocked a base hit. After Gus Rams- den’s jump-start base hit, he then managed to steal his way to third with a base hit by his brother that brought him home. Gus Ramsden later scored a run in the fi fth inning after a base hit and a stolen base. A subsequent error fi nally drove him home in the fi fth. Later he would launch a triple, leading to a score soon afterward giving Wallowa Valley the fi nal run. Steve Tool/Chieftain See Baseball, Page A9 Gus Ramsden, along with brother Zeb, is making waves on the Wallowa Valley/Elgin baseball team. The WV nine are 6-1 on the season and ranked fi fth in state 3A ball. CONGRATULATIONS to 3 of our Wallowa Athletes who recently signed to play college basketball and football NOW OPEN Austin Brockamp, Christopher Nobles and Gus Ramsden Little Bear Drive In 541-886-3163 Hwy 82 • Wallowa, OR Serving you since 1974