Dropping its ninth straight game to open the season Saturday morning 21-0 against unbeaten La Grande, Philomath High’s softball players weren’t hanging their heads. In fact, they seemed fairly upbeat in a postgame chat with coaches in left-center field.
The head coach believes the team can start to turn things around through hard work and show steady improvement with a roster that has no seniors and tries to gain experience. But what’s the mood among the players?
Gallery: PHS softball vs. La Grande (April 6, 2024)
A collection of photos from the Philomath High softball team’s game against La Grande on Saturday.
“We know we’re a young team so we’re trying to keep the mentality up and do the best we can,” PHS junior Kaylie Kohler said. “Especially during games like this to where the level of softball is way better than ours. We’re just trying to keep it up and do the best we can.”
Kohler said the team tries to “keep it chill” and just work toward improving on the next play, the next inning, the next game. At the same time, there is the realization that there is work to be done.
“If you just keep working with it … in practices and games we’ve been constantly improving,” said Kohler, who is enjoying the stability of playing center field after moving around to various positions last season. “Sure we’re losing to these teams but that’ll help us get stronger and better for our league games.”
Head coach Travis King said at this point of the season, it’s about the little wins.
“That’s what we’re after right now at least through this (stretch of the schedule) is those little wins and what are we doing well and where do we go next,” King said.
The Warriors will get into Oregon West Conference play on Monday with a trip to Aurora to face North Marion. Philomath later in the week will also go up against Cascade on the road Wednesday and host Stayton on Thursday.
“I think we’re getting there,” King said. “We did put up some runs yesterday (Friday vs. Pendleton) and we got some hits today. … It’s to where we’re starting to see the ball and against some good pitchers, too.”
Kohler has been a player to watch at the plate.
“I think I’m doing a lot better this year,” Kohler said about hitting against some exceptional pitching so far this season. “I’ve only struck out twice this year so I’ve been hitting the ball and I make it on base quite a bit.”
King sees positive results for her as well.
“She has been doing well,” he said. “She’s got, I think, our best batting average … she’s seeing the ball really well. We need to get the other hitters to settle down and not try to do too much.”
La Grande’s Carlee Strand was a one-girl wrecking crew against the Warriors in Saturday’s game. Strand, a junior, hit two home runs in a 3-for-3 effort at the plate and pitched a two-hit shutout. Sophomores Maddie Seavert and Kallyn Harnack also had home runs.
Philomath went down 1-2-3 in both the first and second innings and got its first base runner aboard in the third when freshman Riley Mason was hit by a pitch. In the fourth, junior Laighla Hockema led off with a single to break up Strand’s no-hitter. Two batters later, Kohler also reached on a single.
Philomath’s game on Monday at North Marion is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.
