BATTLE GROUND — The recipe for success this spring for the Battle Ground softball team has been pretty simple. When the Tigers swing the bats well, they win.
The Tigers averaged nine runs in four non-league wins and only a little more than two in four losses.
So it came as a relief for coach Arielle Wiser when the Tigers pushed across four runs in the first inning of their 4A Greater St. Helens League opener against Union.
“We talked about that,” Wiser said. “People are always looking at the standings, looking at results to see what other teams are doing. So it’s nice to make a statement in our league opener.”
Brianna Adams and Grace Stillman led the way as the Tigers (5-4) rolled to a 10-0 win in five innings over the Titans on Tuesday.
Adams went 2 for 3 with three RBI and Stillman was 2 for 2 with two doubles, two runs and the game-ending RBI in the fifth, putting the 10-run rule into effect.
“It was very nice way to start league, solid start,” Adams said. “(The non-league season) has been pretty good, too. We’ve battled a lot, and we’re working together to get better.”
The two seniors have been playing big roles for the youthful Tigers this spring, Wiser said.
“With Grace being a senior behind the plate being the general for the whole field, that’s huge,” Wiser said. “She communicates well, loud, energetic. And then Bri at second, she’s just so solid, always gets the job done. And her bat has just been amazing this year, too. The leadership is awesome.”
On Tuesday, the Tigers got production throughout the lineup. Jennifer Westrand had two RBI and Mallory Meyer, Alexis Laizure and Kelly Monaghan added one each. Emma Elliott went 1 for 2 and scored three times.
“This has been one of our best seasons for bats, like one through nine,” Wiser said. “We don’t have hitters one through four and then it drops off. It’s through the whole lineup.”
And the Tigers also have better depth with pitching, Wiser said. On Tuesday, Meyer shined in the pitcher’s circle Tuesday as the sophomore shut out the Titans on three hits.
“She’s improved a lot since last year,” Wiser said. “She’s been keeping the ball down lower, and her movement has been a little bit better. And she’s grown.”
The Tigers hope to take another step in their growth on Wednesday when they play at Skyview, if the weather allows.
“Through our preseason, we’ve kind of had our ups and downs,” Wiser said. “But I feel like even in our practices, they’ve been meshing together, growing confidence and gelling together.”
