Medical Lake roughed up by Lakeside

Among other things, Medical Lake head softball coach Tim Blakely learned last week that the Northeast A League’s perennial power, Lakeside, has not necessarily reloaded, but retooled.

After a big-bats victory, 15-5, April 18 against Riverside (2-5 NEA 3-7 overall), Medical Lake (3-4, 7-5) saw its modest three-game winning streak getting thumped by Lakeside April 21, 10-0 in six innings and 16-3, a contest that went the distance.

“They are a solid, solid team,” Blakely said. “This year they don’t have a lot of pop (in their bats) like they had; they don’t need the long ball this year.”

As has been the case the three previous seasons with sensational pitcher Makenzie Brittos dishing up the heat, the senior once again had the Cardinals’ number. But Brittos had help.

Shelby Clausen, a sophomore and heir-apparent to the starter role when Brittos graduates, tossed the opener, had 13 strikeouts and allowed just one hit to Rachael Stanfill. The Eagles (6-1, 10-2) scored in each of their first four innings.

Brittos threw the second game and got big innings of offense in the second (five runs) and seventh (seven runs) and had plenty of cushion built up to survive the Cardinals’ last two at bats where they scored their six runs. “We were able to get to her a little bit.” Medical Lake’s runs came late with three in the bottom of the seventh, way too little and too late. While no Cardinals had multiple hits, Annika Redell whacked a double.

The week started off well — and fast — versus Riverside at Medical Lake as the Cardinals jumped on Rams’ pitching for nine runs in the first and five in the third.

Hailey Hostetter was 4 for 4, scored three runs and had three RBIs. Bradyn Wegner was solid with the bat with a 3 for 3 day at the plate and four RBIs while Rachel Stanfill was 2 for 3.

There was an equally good pitching performance from senior Wegner. “Bradyn came out and threw well,” Blakely said. “Riverside was able to get eight hits off of her (but), they didn’t get the back-to-back-to-back (hits).”

“We have to go back and work on some fundamentals,” Blakely added as he prepares his team for this week’s games, April 26 at Riverside and a doubleheader at home Saturday, 11 a.m. versus Deer Park (3-5, 5-6).

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].