Cubs take down pair of teams in Union

JUST A BIT OUTSIDE: Unlike this at bat, Enterprise/Joseph didn’t miss too many hits during the Cubs’ 4-0 win over Central Linn. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

Friday the Enterprise/Joseph softball team did just that, committing only three errors in two victories at the Union tournament.

The Cubs shut out Central Linn in the day’s first game, 4-0, and then dominated Corbett in the afternoon, 14-2.

“I thought our pitchers did a real good job. Whitney (Schaefer) came in and did real well. Andrea (Schaefer) is still coming back from her injury, but she’s getting back to full strength.”

If Andrea isn’t at full strength yet, then opponents should be worried when she is fully healed.

She dominated on the mound Friday picking up two victories. Andrea allowed only two hits and struck out six batters in the Game 1 win over Central Linn.

“It was really exciting finally being on the field,” Andrea Schaefer said. “It felt nice to be back on the mound. I feel like I’m getting back into the groove of things.

“We’re a really talented team. If we work really hard and play together, we can go to the state tournament and compete.”

When Andrea came out after four innings in Game 1, Whitney came in and allowed no hits from her first five batters.

Matching her sister, Whitney gave up only two hits while on the mound against the Cobras.

“Andrea and Whitney play all year long,” Huffman said. “They play ASA all summer, and they work on their games in the fall and winter. It shows in the spring.”

The Schaefer sisters were not the lone highlight for the Cubs Friday.

Tonya Neal began Enterprise/Joseph’s day with a triple to right field on the Cubs first at bat against Central Linn.

“I thought Tonya did a great job on defense in the second game,” Huffman said. “She’s a great second basemen.

“She actually had a great game overall. She went three for four from the plate with two doubles against Corbett.”

The Cubs continued their dominance against Corbett in the day’s final game.

Enterprise/Joseph jumped out to a 9-0 lead after four innings, before the Cardinals  hit a two-run home run.

The Cubs outhit Corbett 10-5 and committed only one error compared to the Cardinals’ seven.

Enterprise/Joseph’s next game is an intriguing one. The Cubs travel back to Union next Saturday for the 2009 Class 2A, Special District 6 league opener against the Bobcats.

“Union’s going to be tough,” Huffman said. “Wallowa’s going to be tough. We just want to take it one game at a time. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.

“We have some pretty high goals. I think our girls will play well during the season.”

Central Linn        000 000 0 –  0 4 5

Enter./Joseph          202 000 x –  4 4 2

W — Schaefer. L — Banks. 3B — EJ, Neal.

Enter./Joseph          132 323 –  14 10 1