>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

HUNGRY HUSKY: Freshman Kirsten Crow connects with a pitch during a season opening sweep against Wallowa Friday. - The Observer/PAUL HARDER

Elgin/Imbler opened the season with a sweep against Wallowa  9-4 and 16-5.

Without their sophomore ace Tara Ludwig, Katie Griffin and Kacie Merrigan picked up for Elgin/Imbler.

“The girls did a good job,” Elgin/Imbler head coach Dick Griffin said. “We were able to get a lot of the younger kids some work in game situations. The girls made good adjustments all day, and got the job done.”

Elgin/Imbler opened up Game 1 with seven runs in the second inning. 

Ashley Burgess capped the inning with an inside-the-park home run.

Tara Witherspoon collected a triple in the game.

Ayesha Wortman and Kuulei Delatori each had a double for Wallowa.

Griffin transitioned from the pitching circle to the batter’s box in Game 2.

She smacked two doubles as Elgin/Imbler came back from a 1-0 deficit.

Wallowa lead 5-3 after three and a half innings, but Elgin/Imbler scored 13 runs over the final three innings.

Freshman Ashley McGinnis went 2-for-2.

Elgin/Imbler will travel to Pilot Rock for an 11 a.m. doubleheader today.

Wallowa                  100 010 2     — 4   6 2

Elgin/Imbler             070 200 x — 9 10 2

W: Griffin. L: Delatori. 2B- Delatori, Wortman. 3B- E: Witherspoon. HR- E: Burgess.

Wallowa                    104 00     — 5   10 4

Elgin/Imbler               035 44 — 16 16 3

W: Merrigan. L: Burns. 2B— W: Wortman; E: Griffin 2, Campbell, Burgess, Merrigan. 3B— W: Shelton, Briggs; E: Merrigan.

Billman blanks Monroe

JOHN DAY — Good pitching shut down Monroe hitting Friday.

Cody Billman fired a one-hitter for Union during a 10-0 win.

“He’s locating his pitches really well,” Bobcats head coach Greg Poor said. “(Cody’s) mental game has gotten tougher too. He’s thinking about how to set batters up.”

Billman recorded eight strikeouts and issued one walk in seven innings.

Kyle Langford and Austin Woodward drove in two runs apiece.

Union will play Taft in John Day at 11 a.m. today.

Union                     150 111 1     — 10 5 2

Monroe                   000 000 0 —   0 1 3

W: Billman. L: Oporen. 2B— U: Langford, Titus.

Elgin sweeps Rockets

JOHN DAY — Seniors paved the way to an Elgin sweep against Pilot Rock Friday.

Elgin, 3-0, kept the Rockets on the ground with an 11-10 win in Game 1.

“Senior leadership paved the way,” Huskies head coach Greg Luse said. “We played with a lot of heart and that really showed today.”

G.D. Clark and Travis Ludwig hit home runs in the seventh inning to complete the comeback.

Clark stayed steady on the mound despite a Pilot Rock push in its final at-bat.

The senior hurler allowed two runs before closing the door on the win.

Ludwig and Clark finished the game 3-of-4 with four RBIs.

Elgin charged to a 10-0 win in a mercy-rule shortened Game 2.

Ludwig belted his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, and finished with two hits.

Dalton Moore collected two hits in the game.

The Huskies will play South Wasco Thursday.

Game 1

Elgin                     001 006 4     — 11   9 3

Pilot Rock             022 040 2 — 10 16 2

W: Clark. L: Copeland. 2B—- E: Dy. Moore. HR: E: Clark, Ludwig.

Game 2

Elgin                            330 13     — 10 8 1

Pilot Rock                    000 00 —  0 3 3

W: Dy. Moore. L: Banner. 2B- E: Clark, Predmore. HR- E: Ludwig.