TIGERS SWEEP VALE

BATTING PRACTICE: La Grande's Chelsea Long had three hits in the Tigers' Greater Oregon League sweep at Vale Thursday. La Grande racked up 17 hits in the doubleheader. (Observer file photo/PAT PERKINS).

By The Observer

VALE Three Tiger pitchers combined to throw a pair of one-hitters Thursday for the La Grande High School softball team.

Bre McCoy gave up one hit in seven innings against Vale and La Grande won the Greater Oregon League game 7-0. Erin Maier and Megan Caldwell combined on a one-hitter in the second game, with the Tigers prevailing 7-1.

La Grandes offense had 17 hits in the two games, and the defense, which has struggled at times early this season, had an error-free first game.

Their pitching was really weak, La Grande coach Nicole Christian said. Their first pitcher was a lot slower than what were used to. The second pitcher was better, but it took us a little while to catch up with the speed.

Kandis Wallace was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the first game, while Chelsea Long had two hits.

Kylie Lanman had a pair of RBIs in the second game.

La Grande evened its record at 3-3, but its GOL mark stands at 3-1 going into Thursdays doubleheader against Riverside in Boardman. The Pirates, who blew out Mac-Hi in a pair of games earlier this season, are probably the toughest team in the league, according to Christian.

La Grande 030 010 3 7 10 0

Vale 000 000 0 0 1 4

Bre McCoy and Kirkeby; Ross and Cooper. WP McCoy (2-0). LP Ross.

La Grande hits Kirkeby, Long 2, Marcum, McCoy, Wallace 3, Sternfeld, Carmichael. 2B Wallace. RBI Wallace, Carmichael 2, Kirkeby, Henderson.

La Grande 101 320 0 7 7 4

Vale 100 000 0 1 1 3

Erin Maier, Caldwell (3) and Kirkeby; Nalivy and Cooper. WP Caldwell (1-3). LP Nalivy.

La Grande hits Kirkeby, Long, Henderson, Wallace, Ely, Caldwell, Lanman. RBI Kirkeby, Lanman 2.