Softball team goes down in 9–6 loss

By Oliver Lazenby

The Borderites’ varsity softball team had a big inning late in the game but ultimately lost 9–6 against Bellingham on April 19 at Bellingham High School. The Borderites’ overall record is 6–7 and they have won three out of six conference games.

Blaine faced Bellingham’s star pitcher Eliza Rossman, who threw 12 strikeouts in the game.

“She’s one of the fastest pitchers we’ve seen all season,” said Blaine head coach Alisa Burk. “She throws it hard.”

Bellingham got off to an early lead, loading the bases in the third inning and scoring two runs on a walk and a sacrifice fly ball.

Blaine’s bats didn’t start connecting with the ball until the fifth inning, after Rossman started showing some signs of weakness and threw several pitches into the dirt.

Alyssa Starcer drove in Blaine’s first run of the game in the fifth inning with an RBI. Bellingham answered by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing the score to 4–1.

Blaine responded with a big inning in the sixth, starting when Josie Deming hit a deep drive to right field. Deming slid into third base and scored on an error when Bellingham’s third baseman missed the throw.

Blaine scored three more runs before the end of the inning. The team’s most productive hitters were Riley Miller, who went 1–2 with an RBI; Daphne Pugh went 1–2 with a walk and an RBI, Starcer went 2–3 with a double and an RBI and Josie Deming went 1–3 with a triple.

Blaine’s defense – which got out of some jams with a double play in the second inning and several catches on the run in the outfield – was nearly flawless through the first five innings. In the sixth, Bellingham scored five runs thanks to back-to-back doubles and a couple of defensive errors.

Blaine scored another run in the seventh inning and got a couple hits, but it wasn’t enough.

“We definitely didn’t give up,” Burk said about the game. “We stuck in there and everyone played well together.”

The Borderites have had an outstanding season compared to last year, when they won just two conference games. But Burk is striving for more wins.

“Our record is not exactly where we want it to be,” she said. “We’ve played some pretty tough teams and lost some close games.”

The Borderites’ next game is at home against Sedro-Woolley at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.