Rochester Claims EvCo Title with Win Over Elma

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ROCHESTER — High-powered offense has been a near-constant this season for the Warriors. The trend continued in a 16-9 win Over Elma here Thursday, as Rochester claimed the 2A/1A Evergreen League title.

It was the eighth straight game in which Rochester has scored at least 10 runs, and 14th time overall in 2016.

“The amount that we score, we always do it,” Rochester coach Jared Lancaster said. “We always score more than everybody else. They’ve been hanging tough and believing in it, so we’ve been real fortunate.”

Rochester fell behind 4-0 after the top of the second inning.

Elma capitalized on a pair of Rochester errors, followed by doubles from Kohlby Jo Sayler and Chloe Velasco, driving in two and one runners, respectively.

Sayler and Velasco both finished the day 2 for 4.

Hunter Hahn replaced starter Jaelin Lancaster on the mound midway through the top of the inning, with the Warriors trailing the Eagles 3-0.

Rochester responded to the early deficit with six runs in the bottom of the second. The Warriors consistent ability to come from behind has been a new development this season, according to their coach.

“For whatever reason, that’s kind of new for us, to realize there’s seven innings,” said Lancaster.

Belle Phelps and Jessica Girardin hit consecutive singles early in the second, the latter driving in a run to get the Warriors on the board. Hunter Hahn also had a double in the second. Elma committed four errors in the inning, as Rochester took the lead.

Joni Lancaster had an RBI single as part of Rochester’s three-run third inning. Lancaster added a three-run home run in the fifth, and finished the game 3 for 3 with a walk and four RBIs.

Girardin was also 3 for 3 for Rochester, with a walk and two RBIs.

Elma scored four runs in the top of the fourth, with Kaylan Brossard hitting a two-run homer. Velasco followed up that effort three batters later with a two RBI single, as the Eagles pulled to within two at 10-8. Valesco would finish 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

But Rochester scored four runs to regain a six-run lead. That lead would grow in the sixth inning, when Joni Lancaster, Courtney Baird and Girardin all registered singles, as the Warriors went up 16-9.



Elma rotated between a pair of first year pitchers. Starter Corrina Torres ceded the mound to Destry Dineen in the fourth, but moved back to pitcher in the sixth.

Rochester outhit Elma 11-8. Elma committed six errors in the game, to Rochester’s four.

Rochester improves to 17-2 this year, and finishes EvCo play with a 12-2 in Evergreen play, one win ahead of Montesano and Hoquiam.

The Warriors will advance to the postseason, playing at either Black Hills or Centralia — the Evergreen 2A Conference’s fourth-place team — in a District 4 pigtail game on Saturday, May 14. The winner will then play the No. 5 team out of the Greater St. Helens 2A League for one of the eight spots in the District 4 2A Softball Tournament.

Despite the consistent offense Rochester has shown this season, Jared Lancaster believes the team will have to rely on stronger defensive play to be successful in the playoffs.

“I don’t think that we’ll change anything, but I think that the pitching will start getting a lot better,” Jared Lancaster said. “I don’t expect to score double digits, I just hope we won’t allow double digits.”

The Warriors travel to Tumwater on Monday for their final game of the regular season.   

“Hopefully they stay pumped up and welcome the challenge, because it will be a challenge,” Lancaster said. “It’s going to be a good gauge for us.”

 

Hoquiam Drops Tenino

HOQUIAM — Tenino managed just four hits and had six errors in a 12-1 loss to Hoquiam here in an Evergreen 1A Conference game here on Thursday.

The Grizzlies scored two runs in the first inning, followed up by eight runs in the second inning and capped off their scoring with two more runs in the third inning. Tenino managed its only run in the fifth inning on an error.

Merissa Richardson was 2 for 2 at the plate for the Beavers. Morgan Masters got the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits, one earned run and four strikeouts.

Tenino (10-8, 7-8) will wrap up the regular season on Wednesday on the road against Pe Ell-Willapa Valley.