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Sports Elgin/Imbler crashes 3A party
Elgin/Imbler crashes 3A party
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The Elgin/Imbler softball team took offense to early comments overheard from a Vale fan. Then it turned on the offense during a 3-1, 14-3 sweep of the Vikings Thursday. “The girls keep plugging along,” E/I head coach Dick Griffin said. “We started out a little slow, but we showed why we belong here.” A mouthy fan insisted that the local softball didn’t belong in “their league”, and Elgin/Imbler was only in the league because nobody else wanted them. Part of his comments ring true. Who wouldn’t want to expel the defending state champion from the league, and open the door for someone else? Not to mention that Elgin/Imbler returned the 2A State Player of the Year, then freshman Tara Ludwig. Even in a sub-par game, Ludwig had no trouble cruising through the Vale line-up. She tallied 14 strikeouts, including nine in a row. The only hope for the Vikings — bunting. Which is how Vale broke up Ludwig’s no-hit bid in the fourth. The right-hander received all the run support she needed in the first inning. Ashley Burgess drilled a one-out single to left field. Three pitches later Tara Witherspoon one-hopped the right field fence for a triple. Ludwig drove in the final run with a fielder’s choice. Vale broke through in the sixth on an error by the right fielder. Ludwig closed the door with a strikeout. She took matters into her own hands with a strikeout and two assists in the seventh. “She looked a little off,” said Griffin, speaking of his sophomore pitcher. “But she’s tough to handle no matter what game she brings to the field.” After brief glimpses of offense, Elgin/Imbler exploded in the nightcap. Ludwig made her presence known in the batter’s box, delivering one of five straight hits that Elgin/Imbler opened the game with. Ludwig’s double drove in two runs. Five hits later, Elgin/Imbler led 9-0 after one inning. “The bats just woke up,” Griffin said. “This is what the girls are capable of doing.” A five-run fourth inning put the game out of reach. Ludwig struck again with a double, driving in two. Elgin/Imbler starter Katie Griffin gave way to Ludwig in the fifth, and four batters later the game was over. The sweep puts Elgin/Imbler in a tie at 11-1 with Riverside for the 3A Eastern Oregon League Championship. The two teams will play a playoff game in Pendleton Thursday. No time was available. Game 1Vale 000 001 0 — 1 2 2 Elgin/Imbler 201 000 0 — 3 6 1 W — Ludwig. L — U/A. 2B— E/I, Ludwig. Game 2Vale 001 20 — 3 5 2 Elgin/Imbler 900 5x — 14 15 3 W — Griffin. L — Perny. 2B— Vale, Gerrad, Hawkins; E/I, Ludwig 2. |
