OROVILLE – Oroville still is hovering near the top of the NCWB Fastpitch Standings with only Kittitas with a better record this season.

The Hornets are well ahead of the rest of the league with a record of nine wins and three losses in the league and 12 wins and three losses overall.

In one of their most recent at bats they went 2-2 in a doubleheader against Waterville on Tuesday, April 28. In the first game the Hornets finished ahead 23-2, before the game was called for the 10-run rule in the fifth inning.

“It was a very cold and snowy night… so cold I couldn’t believe it,” said Head Coach Rick Mead.

For the Lady Hornets Karissa Lidstrand hit 4-4, as did Melanie Thompson, according to Mead. Kayla McKinney was 3-4 with a triple. Alex Egerton pitched under the chilly conditions and only gave up five hits while striking out seven of the Lady Shockers.

“That was significant because the game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule,” said Mead. “Alex had very good control of the ball and our defense did pretty good.”

The second game also went Oroville’s way with a 24-6 victory. On the mound for the Hornets was Hayley Naclario who pitched a really good game, according to Mead.

“Hornet Kaylyn Kee hit 4-4. It was a real good team effort with every single person scoring that game. We had a good on-base percentage,” Mead said.

The Hornets split a doubleheader with the Manson Trojans, losing the first game 14-8.

“In the first game it was the errors that killed us… there were 11 errors in that game… not physical errors, but mental ones,” Mead said. “One of our starters was also out and that hurt us.”

The Hornets then came back to win the second game 8-6. A big factor was Oroville cutting down their errors to just one for the game, according to Mead.

Hailey Naclerio got the win pitching for the Hornets for four and a half innings, said Mead. Alex Egerton finished up on the mound. The Hornets had 12 hits, with Kayla McKinney going 3-3.

The Hornets travel to Soap Lake today and finish up the regular season at home against Liberty Bell next Tuesday. Soap Lake only has one win, while Liberty Bell is around the middle of the pack.

Mead says if his girls continue to play as they have they should remain near the top of the league. “If we lost the next four games Manson or Liberty Bell could catch up,” he said.