Goats softball tear it up last week, go 4-1 against Okanogan, Cashmere and Nooksack Valley

CHELAN - After a four game slump, the bats for the Chelan Goats softball team have woke up in a hurry. 

After failing to score more than nine runs in their past seven games, Chelan exploded last week for 63 runs in five games as they produced double-digit runs in all but one game.  

• Okanogan

Chelan eased past Okanogan on Tuesday, April 18, winning both games by a final score of 17-6 and 12-7. 

Katie Gleasman was a big factor in the game as she racked up four RBI’s on two singles and a home run. 

After plating one in the first inning, Chelan took control of the game in the second on doubles from Katanna Kelling, Ashley Oswald and a single from Julia Horlebein. Chelan would eventually score six in the inning. 

Pitcher Taylor Sams earned another victory for the Goats after tossing six innings while allowing six runs on 13 hits and striking out one. 

Overall, Chelan collected 16 hits in the contest with Lexie and Katie Gleasman, Kelling and Jessie Oules each getting multiple hits. 

The second game saw much of the same as Katie drove in four runs on two singles and a home run to lead the Goats. Chelan had 15 total hits in the contest. 

Kelling got the win for Chelan after throwing four innings and surrendering five runs on five hits and striking out two batters. 

Sierra Shively, both Gleasman sisters, Ashley Oswald and Taylor Boykin got multiple hits for Chelan in the second game. 

Chelan was also a force on the base paths as they stole six bases during the game. 

• Cashmere 

Chelan continued their hot streak against Cashmere on Thursday, April 20 after defeating the Bulldogs by a final score of 6-2. 

The Goats had to rely more on small ball through sacrifice bunts and putting the ball in play in order to push across runs since Cashmere was sure handed and didn’t commit a single error all game. 

“We had Jessie Oules jump start us with a triple on the first pitch of the game and we just tried to keep tacking on runs by playing a little small ball,” head coach Jeff Barker wrote in his game report. “Our girls did a nice job just putting the ball in play with only one strikeout for the game against a very good pitcher. It was a good week picking up three wins in league.” 

• Nooksack Valley 

Chelan added one more win to their season total over the weekend as they split their series with the visiting Nooksack Valley. 

In the first game, Chelan was flawless in their execution as they put up 13 runs and had both Kelling and Sams combine for a shutout. 

After scoring a couple in the first three innings, Chelan poured on nine runs in the fourth inning on a few pass balls, a single by Oules and Kelling and a home run by Katie. 

Kelling earned another win for Chelan, going four innings and allowing three hits and striking out four. 

Chelan had 11 hits in the game as Oules and Oswald had multiple hits for the Goats. 

Unfortunately after being on a roll through four straight games, the Goats hit a couple snags. 

First being Sams, who only pitched one inning in the first game before being pulled for Kelling after suffering a serious knee injury. To add salt on the wound, Kelling then took a comeback line drive off her pitching hand against the second batter of the game which knocked her out as well. 

Coach Barker said he hopes to get Kelling back in a week or so. 

Despite the obstacles, Chelan was in the game throughout and was tied with Nooksack in the fifth inning. The Goats even scored six runs in the seventh inning but their comeback would fall three runs short. 

Chelan had 18 hits in the game with Lexie, Oules, Jade Hatherell, Katie and Nayeli Zavala each having multiple. Hatherell led the team with three hits and four RBI’s in the game. 

Chelan also stole 17 bases during the game with five players stealing multiple bags. Oules led the team with five respectively. 

“After losing our second pitcher in the first inning, we turned to Lexie and put her in the circle,” coach Barker said. “Lexie has not pitched since she was in eighth grade, but I thought she did a great job for us under the circumstances. We also player three of our younger girls that don’t get a lot of playing time and they all did a real nice job hitting the ball and they stated aggressive on the base paths.” 

Chelan had their final game against Omak on Tuesday, April 25 and will next head to Okanogan to take on the Bulldogs on Tuesday, May 2. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. 

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213