OLYMPIA — Rochester started their summer softball schedule with two wins against Tenino and Timberline here on Monday.
The Warriors won Game 1 against Tenino, 6-5, in five innings. Rochester’s Kassidy Byrd allowed one earned run and no walks while striking out eight batters. Tenino’s Cassie Cannon had an equally solid performance, allowing three earned runs and two walks while also striking out eight batters.
At the plate, Rochester’s Alyssa Hoffman was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs and L.J. Smith had a hit and two RBI. Tenino’s Alivia Hunter had a hit, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs.
Rochester scored three runs in the first and third innings for a 6-0 lead. Tenino was able to mount a comeback, scoring two runs in the third and one run in the fourth to cut the lead to 6-3. The Beavers tallied two runs in the fifth inning but couldn’t push across the tying run as Rochester held on for the win.
The Warriors rolled in Game 2, dropping Timberline 16-0 in three innings. Tori Smith pitched well in the circle to earn the shutout for Rochester, allowing two hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
Smith helped her own cause at the plate with a hit and an RBI and Jessa Lenzi had a hit, was hit by a pitch and scored three runs.
Rochester scored 10 runs in the second inning to pull away for good.
“(We played) really well. I’m really happy with this team. We’ve got gals from four different high schools including Rochester. The vast majority are incoming freshman, a lot of young talent, I’m really happy with how they’re coming together,” Rochester coach Dave Montgomery said. “We’ve had a limited time to practice together. I told them before the first game we have to communicate extra, coming from different organizations and from different schools, one thing I asked from them was to communicate on the field and they did that. They’re a really neat group of kids.”
Rochester faces Rainier and Tenino at 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Stevens Field in Olympia.
