Gresham softball survives late 3-run rally to beat Sandy

Published 6:45 pm Friday, April 19, 2024

There were a few elevated heart rates, and some wringing of nervous hands, but Gresham softball was able to overcome a late rally and snag its first conference win of the season.

Sandy didn’t make it easy.

The Gophers were up 8-3 on the road Friday, April 19, when the Pioneers made a run in the 6th inning. First freshman Kaylee Swanson hit a single, followed by a pair of bunts from senior catcher Kendall Wickizer and sophomore pitcher Ruby Marak, to load the bases.

Sandy junior Katy Emerson hit a deep ball down right field to score a pair, and then a sacrifice hit from junior Lilly Hill brought home freshman courtesy runner Mya Webster, leaving a tenuous 8-6 Gresham lead.

“Sandy got some momentum, they are a good team and well-coached,” said Gresham Coach Jim Gardenhire. “They are tenacious, and took advantage of what we were giving them. Clawed back and scored those runs to make it close.”

In response Gardenhire called time to walk out to the circle and calm his players.

“I wanted to settle their nerves, so we could get through that run,” he said.

That beat paid off. Gresham sophomore starting pitcher Kiera Downing tossed a strike out, and then a subsequent catch got the Gophers out of the frame.

While Gresham’s offense didn’t add to the score, the defense came up big in the final inning with three straight outs: a tag at first by senior Kendall Gardenhire; a deep catch in the outfield by junior Alyssa Grover, who twisted to make the last-second grab; and a game-winning out from junior La Terra Foster-Frison, who stepped under a pop up.

Gresham (7-9, 1-2 League) won 8-6 over Sandy (7-9, 1-2 League).

“We were aggressive at the plate, and the ball dropped a few times for us after we put it in play,” Gardenhire said. “It was opportunistic on our part, one of the few games this year where the ball didn’t leave the yard.”

The coaches were happy with how the Gophers scored those early runs to build a lead. Rather than booming bats, a strength of the team this season, it was more savvy hitting and well-placed strikes.

“This was a team win today because the bottom half of the lineup really came through,” Gardenhire said.

The Gophers are celebrated more than just the win, they have been basking in that home field glow. After spending the first half of the season on the road (14 games) as crews finished renovating its stadium with turf fields, Gresham finally got that home debut against Central Catholic on Tuesday, April 19.

“We had forgotten what it was like to bat second,” Gardenhire said with a laugh.

And being back home couldn’t have come at a more pivotal moment for the Gophers. It had been a bit of a bumpy start to the season for the talented squad.

“It has been a season of adversity, the first time being on an actual softball field was our first game,” Gardenhire said of having to practice on the football field and the JV baseball outfield.

“It’s a tribute to the girls they kept their heads up the whole time,” he added.