Lady Raiders still looking at state

The Lady Raiders took a loss after a win this week in their quest to make it to the state Fastpitch Softball Championships at Yakima's Gateway Sports Complex May 24-25.

In District 6 playoffs, Lake Roosevelt bested Tonasket 8-7 in Grand Coulee May 10, as league pitcher of the year Presley Steffens struck out 13 batters. Last night, however, LR lost to the Lady Bulldogs, 5-2, in Okanogan.

LR (17-5) will now play Brewster on the Raider's home diamond in Grand Coulee Friday at 4:30 p.m. in a loser-out contest that sends the winner to state.

Brewster (12-11) earned the honor of meeting the Raiders by beating Tonasket Tuesday night 13-8.

Against Okanogan, (21-1) the Lady Raiders showed up to hold the top-ranked Lady Bulldogs to win by three points, not the 10-plus they managed in three other meetings this spring.

It could have gone the other way.

LR had the bases loaded in the first inning, but Bulldog pitcher Tsalee Mail struck out three in a row to end it. The Raiders trailed a couple innings later, 3-2.

At the top of the seventh, Lake Roosevelt had two on base with one out and a chance to overcome Okanogan, but that will have to wait now for Yakima, following one more LR win at home this season on Friday for second place in District 6.

(With reporting by Al Camp)

LR vs Tonasket

Taylor Vargas Thomas. 2-3. 2 singles. 2 runs scored

Nautika Brown 1/3 1single. 1 run scored

Presley Steffens 2/4 1 single 1 double

Phenyx Marchand 1/3 1 double 1 run scored

Ava Sam 1/3 1 double 1 run scored

Lola Yazzie. 2/3 2 singles 1 run scored

Aspen Smith 1/3. 1 single.