The Thunderbirds softball team played a doubleheader for the Northwest Athletic Conference against Olympic College on Saturday, and it was a mixed result for the team.
In the first game, the Thunderbirds came away with their first win of the season, defeating the Rangers at home 3-2. However, they lost their momentum in their second game and fell to Olympic College 16-2.
In the first game, the Thunderbirds came out strong and were able to secure a win thanks to some key plays by Jazlyn Furuya, Corrina Cunningham, and Abigail Wilkins. Jazlyn Furuya hit a double and a single, Corrina Cunningham hit a double, and Abigail Wilkins hit a home run. Trinity Marion pitched a great game and held the Rangers to only two runs.
Tuan Shihan/THUNDERWORD
Corrina Cunningham pitches the ball.
After the game, Samantha Johnson, the Thunderbirds’ first baseman, shared her thoughts on the team’s performance. “It felt amazing, it just feels so nice to win for the first time,” said Johnson.
When asked about the key to winning the game, Samantha credited the team’s focus and mental state. “I think we were focused on the game and in the right headspace. Because of this we made smart moves that were key to the end result,” she said.
Unfortunately, the Thunderbirds were not able to maintain their momentum in the second game. They lost 16-2, with the Rangers dominating the game. Johnson shared her thoughts on the loss saying, “I personally think we just lost energy and focus. After the high of winning the first game left us, we were exhausted.”
Despite the loss, the Thunderbirds are still determined to maintain their focus and have fun while playing. “We are looking to maintain that focus we had and to also have fun. If we can’t win then at least we would have fun playing,” said Johnson.
Overall, the Thunderbirds had a mixed result in the doubleheader against the Rangers, but they are still optimistic about the rest of the season. The team will be looking to continue to work on improving their game in the upcoming weeks.
Additionally, the Thunderbirds played against the Chokers (Grays Harbor College) last Monday at home, but the results were not available at press time.
The next game will be away next Saturday against the Bellevue College Bulldogs, who are the leaders and on the top of the table with a streak of 22 consecutive victories. It will surely be an intense game.