Tigers on the Prowl: La Grande softball remains undefeated
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — La Grande softball is off to a roaring start.
The Tigers have breezed through the beginning of the season to earn 11 wins and no losses as of Tuesday, April 16.
“I think a lot of the success so far has to do with the extra hard girls the girls put in during the offseason,” said head coach Walt Anderson. “They’re lifting weights, going to open gyms and a lot of the girls play on summer ball teams, so all that helps how they’re playing at a high level right now.”
The undefeated Tigers are averaging an unthinkable 12.4 runs a game through 11 games while holding opponents to just 1.6 runs a game. La Grande has scored 137 runs, while opponents have only crossed home plate 18 times.
“We’re a very strong hitting team 1 through 9,” said Anderson. “Right now we’re hitting above .400 percent, so we’re making contact with the ball.”
The defense of course has to be stellar as well to be successful, and the Tigers are showing it through strong pitching and fundamentals.
“The biggest thing from this year to last year is that our team is not giving up the errors that we did last season,” said Anderson. “I tell the girls for every error they make on the field they have to get five hits to make it up.”
The Tigers are now in the thick of Greater Oregon League play, with games coming up against Ontario, Pendleton and Baker.
While La Grande is certainly a lock to make the playoffs and seek the school’s first softball title since 2019, Anderson, who’s in his second year as head coach, says his job is to make the girls stay focused.
“We just need to keep playing the way we’re playing and not let the little things bother us,” said Anderson. “Focus on one game at a time, make sure we’re not committing errors and don’t worry about the wins and losses. Just focus on being the best player that you can during that one game and helping the team win.”
It’s a huge week ahead for La Grande as the Tigers host one-loss Pendleton on Friday, April 19 for a doubleheader. Both teams are 4-0 in Greater Oregon League play.
First pitch of the first game is at 2:00pm.
