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2B | MAY 20, 2020 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Elks’ ‘whirlwind’ season one of learning and growing BY Jon Stinnett With a team short on ex- perience, and with a drasti- cally shortened season (not to mention offseason) in which to gain more, progress in the fundamentals of softball shaped the spring for the Elk- ton Elks. Describing this season as a “whirlwind” even before its official end, Elkton Manager Katie DeBonis pointed out that much of her team had never played the game before LION this year. Which is not to say that success was nowhere to be found. Elkton can count wins against Glendale, Oakland and Riddle to its favor this year, and the Elks fought hard even in their losses. But according to DeBonis, the scoreboard certainly can’t tell the entire tale of the Elks’ season. “As you can expect with a team that is looking at soft- ball with fresh eyes, we had so many successes to celebrate: laying a bunt down (perfect- ly) for the very first time in a game and making in on base; catching a pop fly in the out- field for the first time at a real- ly key moment, stealing a base for the first time,” she said, adding that “their excitement and celebrations were very sweet and incredibly inspiring to be part of.” In fact, the camaraderie among players helped the Elks weather their challenges. “We have a few girls with some experience, and they were really great about teach- ing and lending insight to the less experienced players,” she said. “I am super thankful that they all were incredibly sup- portive of one another.” Last week, Elkton found it- self on the wrong end of tough losses against the North Doug- las juggernaut and a talented Bandon team. And yet, DeBo- nis said she feels that more time to prepare in the presea- son could have helped them be more competitive against such quality competition. “I think our biggest chal- lenge was the limited time- frame prior to games starting, particularly with newer play- ers,” she said. “We had a lot of girls that were just scared of the ball, and as the season progressed, it lessened. I just wish we would have had a lit- tle more time leading into the season to work on basics.” The Elks were led by pitch- er Avree Block and catcher Bailey Peacock, who DeBonis called the “driving force” of the team. But with solid fun- damentals to draw from, it seems certain that Elkton will be a force to be reckoned with in future years. “All of these girls have put in a lot of hard work, and I’m so very proud of the progress they’ve made,” DeBonis said. “I think the work they’ve put it this year gives us a really solid footing to begin again from for next year.” Elkton was scheduled to finish its 2021 softball season by hosting a doubleheader against Yoncalla last night (af- ter press deadlines). from B1 errors responsible for several Falcon runs. The Lions would need two more runs to avoid the 10-run rule in the fifth in- ning, and they did manage to score three. But these all came as the result of the wildness of Elmira’s pitchers, who walked the bases loaded. Cottage Grove sophomore Deegan Hutchins grounded out to bring in one run, and another walk and flyout by JJ Thornton accounted for the other two. Elmira struck back, though, with a three-run dou- ble that ended the game. Cot- tage Grove suffered another game where they did not pro- duce a base-hit. Berry noted the impressive performance of Lion pitcher Braden Buckland, who con- tinued to battle throughout the game and often stymied Falcon hitters with a lively cur- veball. Needing to find a way to rattle the bats in Saturday’s fi- nale, the Lions sure came out swinging. Christian Spear and Thornton led off the game with singles. Hutchins flew out to right to bring in a run, and then cleanup hitter Tristan Kane socked a standup double. Later freshman Peyton Glenn also singled. The Lions left one runner on but scored three runs on four hits to take the early lead. Things looked even brighter as Spear, a freshman, blanked the Falcons in the bot- tom of the first. After the opening frame, however, Cottage Grove’s bats again went quiet. Elmira lefty Aiden Wolgamott settled From Baby to Graduate (it seemed like just a few short years) 8th Grade, High School, or College Junior Braden Buckland loops a curveball around an Elmira hitter (JON STINNETT/FOR THE SENTINEL) down, eventually striking out seven Lions and not allowing another run. By contrast, the Falcons scored four runs in the second inning, three in the fourth and three in the sixth to seal a 10-3 win. Despite a challenging year, Berry said he’s encouraged by progress the Lions made during their six-week season. Up and down, there’s been Grads name School: improvement this year with- out question,” he said. “We’ve played decent baseball down the stretch. There have just been too many hiccups here and there.” With four juniors and sev- eral freshmen and sophomores on this year’s team, it’s a pretty safe bet that the Lions will im- prove on the foundation laid this year in 2022. Birthday: Parents: Grandparents: Coming Thursday, June 3rd “Baby to Graduate Review” Deadline is Thursday, May 22nd Now is the time to reserve your graduates a spot in this special section just for them. Just bring in or mail, with the coupon below, your graduate’s favorite baby picture along with a current picture to be published side by side on June 3, 2021. What a special way to show off that graduate you are so proud of! Enclose check for $29 00 and mail to “Baby to Graduate Review” Cottage Grove Sentinel P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 SOFTBALL from B1 or call. 541-942-3325, stop by our office. would get no closer. The Challburgs were hired to helm the Lion softball squad last year, though the Covid lockdown put the 2020 season on ice. Danielle Challburg said that an early highlight to the 2021 campaign came with the Lions notching their first soft- ball win in six years. “That said it all; everything else is gravy,” she said. “All in all, we’re happy with our sea- son.” Grad’s name: Grandparents: School: Your name: Birth Date: Address: Parents: Phone: • Family Atmosphere • To-Go Orders • Great Pizza Your community Brewpub and one stop shop for pet, backyard farm, garden supplies and gift s. COAST FORK BREWING AND FEED STORE Open 11-7 Take Out, Pick-Up, & Delivery 106 S 6th Street, CG 541 942-877 1745 E. Main St. • CG • 541-942-5531 Corner of 11th & Main St. 541-650-2364 Place Large Orders Before 9:30AM For Lunch Time Pick Up Salads, Wraps, & Boxes Now Open Mon-Fri 11-3 Follow Us On Facebook