Title-hungry Granite Falls improves to 4-0
Published 10:25 pm Wednesday, March 24, 2010
GRANITE FALLS — Despite a dandy 20-5 record a year ago, the Granite Falls softball team failed to win a league championship, failed to win a district championship and failed to earn a high place at the state tournament.
This season, the Tigers feel they have some unfinished business.
On Wednesday afternoon, Granite Falls improved to 4-0 in the new season with an 8-5 victory over visiting Cascade Conference rival Lakewood.
Senior pitcher Alyssa Arndt led the way for the Tigers, striking out eight in seven innings, and contributing offensively as well with two hits, a walk, two RBI and a run scored in three at-bats.
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth inning, the Tigers built a big margin with a seven-run rally. With two runners on base and two outs, Granite Falls scored seven runs in a hurry with an RBI single, a walk, a two-RBI single, another two-RBI single, an RBI triple and an RBI single for an 8-2 lead.
Lakewood came right back with a three-run fifth, but from there Arndt shut the door, retiring eight of the last 10 hitters she faced.
“I could’ve done better,” said Arndt, who had a glittering 0.84 ERA last season. “My pitches weren’t exactly where I wanted them and how I wanted them. … I know I can throw better.”
Perhaps, but she was still good enough to win. She was only in trouble in two innings — the third, when the Cougars scored twice, and the fifth, when Lakewood took advantage of two walks, a hit batter and two timely singles for three runs.
“(Arndt) has been real solid for us,” said Granite Falls coach Candi Reeves. Citing Arndt’s offseason work and the extra time she puts in during the season, “Her dedication is probably the best I’ve ever seen,” Reeves said. “I’m really proud of her.”
Against Lakewood, the other Tigers backed their pitcher with plenty of offensive support. The top seven players in the order all scored, and shortstop Sarah Hensley, second baseman Caitlyn Munce and left fielder Alicia Amundson all had two hits, as did Arndt. One of Munce’s hits was a long triple to left field.
For Lakewood, first baseman Kortney Fritz and third baseman Kahlee Barrio also had two hits, with Barrio rapping a double.
“Lakewood is a tough team,” Reeves said. “They’re well-coached and they’re really tough to play, so we’re always really ready when we play them.”
Despite a strong showing in the 2009 regular season, Granite Falls lost a league championship playoff to Archbishop Murphy, lost to Anacortes in the district title game and then lost two of three games at state, including another defeat against Anacortes.
The goal this year, Arndt said, is “to go to state, it’s as simple as that. And to do better than we did last year hopefully.”
Arndt is one of four seniors on the Granite Falls roster — Hensley, third baseman Chelaina Crews and outfielder Aly Silveira are the others — and “I’ve had these kids since they were freshman,” said Reeves, who is in her fourth season. “I started out with them here, so it’s real special.
“Our kids have really climbed,” she added. “And they really have high hopes this year.”
At Granite Falls H.S.
Lakewood0020300—571
Granite Falls100700x—8102
Bean and Wilson. Arndt and Spencer. WP_Arndt. LP_Bean. 2B_Barrio (L). 3B_Munce (GF). Records_Lakewood 0-2 league, 2-2 overall. Granite Falls 3-0, 4-0.
