The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Behind the hitting and pitching of senior Amanda Smith, Sisters High School's varsity softball team opened the season last week with a pair of wins, edging La Pine and routing Klamath Falls Union.

It's been five years since the Outlaws opened at 2-0, but with a last-inning 5-4 win over La Pine and a 19-4 rout against Klamath Falls, optimism is high for coach Dave Smith's team. The 2-0 start matches Sisters' win total for the 2016 season.

"The wins are nice and we have a lot of work to do, but with the determination these girls have to get better, that's the big win for me as a coach," said Smith.

The Outlaws opened the season against La Pine when Smith struck out 16 and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off passed ball.

The Outlaws started slowly against La Pine, scoring just once in the first four innings, but added two in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh. The winning run came when Smith led off the seventh with a single, stole second, moved to third on an out and scored on the passed ball.

Sophomore Beth Anne Yount had three base hits and drove in three runs in the season-opening victory.

In addition to her 16 strikeouts, Smith pitched a one-hitter and all four La Pine runs were unearned.

While the bats were somewhat quiet against La Pine, they opened up with a vengeance against Klamath Falls and started early with the Outlaws scoring seven in the first, eight in the second, and four in the third, for the eventual five-inning mercy run-rule victory.

Klamath Falls was down 19-0 before scoring twice each in the third and fourth innings.

All totaled, Sisters had 16 base hits and that included a pair of doubles by Smith in the second inning. Smith had four hits for the game.

Other big hitters for the Outlaws included Savana Ryan with three hits and Yount, Mya St. Clair, Sarah Hartford and Sophia Affatati with two hits each. Nancy Montecinos also had a run-scoring single. Coach Smith noted that Rylee Funk, Kylie Steiner, Denise Tapia, Graciela Isarraraz and Brenda Isarraraz all made good contact against Klamath Falls.

Smith and St. Clair split pitching duties with Smith striking out four in two innings and St. Clair striking out one in her varsity pitching debut.

"Mya did a great job for being on the mound for the first time in several years," said coach Smith. "She has been practicing her pitching for several weeks and I see a lot of potential in this girl."

Klamath Falls and the Outlaws were scheduled to play a second game, but darkness cut it short after two innings with the Outlaws leading 3-0.

"Coach Mooers (assistant Kerry) and I have been setting up optional practices for the girls and 80 percent of them are showing upon their own time," said Smith, in his second year as head coach. "These girls are working at jobs, taking AP classes and that right there makes us want to give these girls every opportunity so they can be better both on the field and off."

Sisters was scheduled to play 1-1 Madras on Tuesday and visit unbeaten Crook County (2-0) on Thursday. The Outlaws open league on April 5 hosting Elmira, the 2016 Sky-Em League champions.

The fact that the Outlaws were able to host a season-opening game is somewhat surprising. When the Outlaws began practice in late February, Smith figured field conditions (mainly two feet of snow) would prevent the Outlaws from any early-season home games.

"Not to mention how we were sharing both gyms with baseball, track, lacrosse and a few other sports," pointed out Smith. "We needed room so for two days, Mooers and I brought out the snow blowers to clean some space for everyone to use. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to help your team and the other teams."