Two days made a huge difference for the La Conner High softball team as it delivered a thrilling 14-13 NW2B/1B road win over the Concrete Lions April 3, avenging their April 1 28-15 home loss to the Lions.
The major turnaround was sparked by the return of La Conner pitcher Della Damien, who shook off the effects of a nagging ankle injury to scatter five hits and strike out three Concrete batters in just over four innings of work.
Damien shared pitching duties with Kat Edwards, who checked the hosts on two hits during her stint in the circle.
With the win, La Conner improved to 1-5 entering its bye week. Head coach Loran James’ charges resume conference action with an April 15 home date opposite Coupeville. The Braves then visit Coupeville on April 17 for the second half of a two-game season series. Both games start at 4 p.m.
Until then, La Conner will savor its triumph over Concrete and take time to rest and recover from a hectic early season schedule.
“We’re sure glad that Della got cleared to play at Concrete,” Braves Assistant Coach Taysha James-Sherman said. “And we’ve got a couple of other players who like her have been dealing with ankle issues.”
Damien and Edwards were backed at Concrete by a 14-hit La Conner attack.
Jade Souryavong paced the victors with a double and two singles, four stolen bases, and two runs scored. She also drove in three scores.
Angie Pena plated three times for La Conner, collected a pair of base hits, swiped two bags, and recorded two RBIs.
Rachel Bill continued her torrid hitting of late with a two-for-four day, driving in two runs. She did further damage with a team-high four stolen bases.
Edwards helped her cause with two hits. Kellie Cayou-Lockrem lined two hits as well.
Emmalin Goodman, Yamileth Ocampo-Contreras, and Aaliyah Gonzalez each had singles to round out the Braves offense.
Concrete kept the contest close by drawing 11 free passes and taking advantage of two La Conner fielding miscues.
The hosts, however, committed four errors of their own and had to play catch-up after falling behind 9-0 in the early going.
La Conner set the tone with a four-run rally in the opening frame. The Braves added two tallies in the second and three more in the third.
The Lions responded with an eight-run outburst in the home third, then tacked on another four scores in the fourth.
But La Conner yielded just one run the rest of the way while plating once in the fourth and twice each in the fifth and sixth.
Concrete, which suffered its ninth straight home defeat dating to last season, fell to 1-3 overall.
After meeting Coupeville next week, La Conner (1-1 in league) entertains NW2B/1B rival Orcas Island in La Conner on April 22 in a 4:30 p.m. start.
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
