OROVILLE – The Oroville fastpitch softball team is having a rough start to their season with losses coming on their home diamond against Curlew, Tonasket and Okanogan.

The girls faced Curlew in a double header on Tuesday, March 1. In the first game the final score was Oroville 6, Curlew 15.

In the first inning Oroville matched Curlew, one to one – Breanna Dodd was hit by the pitcher and took first base and stole second. Reinna Quick hit a single and Dodd was able to take third and home. Two more outs against the Lady Hornets ended the inning. In the second inning both teams were three up, three down.

Oroville outscored Curlew 4-0 in the third inning. Hailey Naclerio had a single and stole second, Quick hit a single, then stole second bringing Naclerio to third. Jessica Hutsell brought Naclerio home with a single. Tori King got a single by catcher interference and Tosca Pickering got walked bringing Quick home. Kaylee Harris walked first then Ashley Glover with a single brought Pickering home.

In the fourth inning Oroville went three up three down. Curlew made nine runs in the fifth inning to Oroville’s one run and Curlew made four points in the fifth.

“The game was called in the sixth due to an Oroville player suffering an injury,” said Hornet Head Coach Dane Forrester.

Oroville faired better in game two, trailing by three points 11 to 14 against Curlew after the game was called due to darkness.

“In the first inning, Breanna stole third base, Ashlyn was hit by the pitcher, Hutsell was thrown out at second and Breanna was brought home by Jessica’s RBI,” said Forrester.

In the second inning, the Hornet’s program of stealing bases paid off. Ashlee Glover stole second and third, Shelby Scott stole second base, Dodd hit a single, then stole second and third bringing in both girls. Dodd then stole home herself. Hailey walked first and stole second, third and home. Amanda McAllister walked first and also stole second, third and home. Pickering repeated the same. Glover was walked and stole second. Tori King was walked and then stole second and was able to come home on a single by Dodd.

In the third inning the Hornets went three up, three down. In the fourth inning, Naclerio had a single and was brought in by Hutsell’s single.

In the fifth inning, Dodd hit a single stole second, third and home. Bridget Clark walked first, stole second, third and home. The game was called due to darkness.

“Overall, the girls performed very well and I was proud of the way they worked as a team,” Forrester said. “I will also say that they showed a lot of compassion when one of their teammates was injured and I was proud how well they regrouped and finished the game.”

The Hornets were shutout by the Okanogan Bulldogs on March 22.

Things started out badly for the Lady Hornets in the first inning with Oroville going three up, three down. In the second inning Quick hit a single and then she stole second and third. Justyce Olson walked to first and stole second and Katriona Lidstrand took first by a walk. In the third inning the Hornets went three up three down again.

“Okanogan’s experience was our downfall. We didn’t play our best this game, but we will work on infield and outfielding,” said Coach Forrester.

Oroville faced their North County rivals the Tonasket Tigers on Monday, March 28, falling seven to 18.

The Hornets matched the Tigers run for run in the first inning, each team scoring four. For Oroville Dodd stole second and third and was brought in on a double by Quick. Olson made it to first by a walk and stole second and was brought home by Quick’s double. Hutsell was then walked to first, stole second and was brought home again by Quick’s double. Amanda McAllister came up to bat and there was an overthrow to the catcher and Quick stole home.

In the second inning, the Hornets went three up, three down.

“We had alot of errors in the second inning when Tonasket was up to bat, Tonasket made seven runs that inning,” Forrester said.

Hutsell was walked to first in the third inning and then stole second. Quick was up to bat, hit a triple bringing Hutsell home. Glover hit a single, bringing Quick home. Glover then stole second and third. The next two Hornets went out and the third inning ended.

“In the fourth inning, we held Tonasket to only three runs, when Oroville went up to bat, Breanna got a single and stole second. Justyce went up to bat, was walked to first, but failed to be brought in,” Forrester said.

In the fifth inning Tonasket scored three runs and Quick hit a triple. Tori King was walked to first and stole second. Ashlyn Godwin was up to bat when an overthrow was made to the catcher letting Quick steal home. The ten run rule was applied and the game ended.

“Overall the girls played a better game,” said Forrester.