Wolves Softball struggles with errors, loses to Rock Springs Tigers

The Green River Wolves Softball team hosted their last home game against the Rock Springs Tigers last Thursday.

At the beginning of the game, both teams were playing strong and neither team was able to score. The Tigers took off in the second inning, scoring one run while Green River couldn't bring a runner home. The Tigers kept the momentum going, scoring two runs in the third inning, five runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the seventh inning. Green River scored one run in the seventh inning and still struggled with some errors on the field that hurt them, losing the game with a final score of 1-12.

Leading the team was Kodi Allred with one run, along with Terryn Avery batting the run in. Allred, Danielle Maag, Chacee Shiner and Gina Barajas collected one hit each for the Wolves. Haidyn Terry pitched seven innings, allowing 12 runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking two players.

During the second game, the Wolves played much stronger and fought the Tigers to the very end. Unfortunately, some errors on the field allowed the Tigers to stay ahead of the Wolves. Green River had 15 hits during the high-scoring game compared to Rock Springs' nine hits. Green River lost the game with a final score of 12-13.

Leading the team was Allred with three runs, along with two runs from Izzy Kelley, Shiner and Barajas. Ally White and Maag finished with one run each. Allred doubled in the first inning, tripled in the third inning, singled in the fourth inning and hit a home run to left field in the fifth inning. Terry Shiner, Barajas and Avery had multiple hits while Kelley stole two bases during the game. Avery pitched during the beginning of the game, allowing five hits and nine runs, striking out three and walking one player. Terry finished pitching the game, allowing four runs on four hits, striking out one and walking no players.

Head Coach Blair McEndaffer felt the girls didn't play well against Rock Springs.

"There were too many errors," she explained. "I think there were seven unearned runs and you can't win ball games like that, no matter how good you are or how talented you are."

She is very frustrated with the errors being made because she feels they are things the team has been practicing over and over, and the players just aren't executing what they have learned.

The coach said that during the second game, they would have won if they hadn't committed seven errors right off the bat in the first inning.

"The errors are what killed us," she said. "Not only that, mental errors. We have to figure out a way to eliminate those."

The next two games are very important games for the Wolves. They need to win games if they want a chance to play in the State Championships that take place in Gillette on May 16 through 18. Coach McEndaffer said both games are "very winnable," and winning both of the games would put them in a pretty good position to make it to State.

The Wolves will travel to play a doubleheader against the Worland Warriors on Friday, and on Saturday they will play a doubleheader against the Cody Fillies.