Douglas High’s Marissa McLelland lines up for a slap hit Wednesday afternoon at Spanish Springs.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Douglas High School softball couldn’t get around No. 2 seed Spanish Springs on Wednesday in the second round of the Class 5A Northern Region softball tournament.
The Cougars plated a pair of runs in the first and second innings before tallying a three-spot in the fifth in a 7-3 win over Douglas.
The Tigers, seeded third, had earlier opened the eight-team tournament with a 7-3 win over Damonte Ranch, setting up the second-round meeting with Spanish Springs.
In Wednesday’s game, Douglas opened with Cam McLelland in the circle, but switched to Haylie Pledger in the second inning.
The Tigers made two errors in the field, but six of the seven runs recorded by Spanish Springs went as earned.
“We went with Cam and it was difficult finding the tight zone and it kind of forced us back to Pledger and they’ve seen her a little bit more,” said Douglas head coach Allison Meyer.
At the plate, McLelland was the Tigers’ best hitter, putting together a 3-for-4 day.
Annie Hill, Peyton Simpson, Ava Gildea and Ida Martin all recorded hits in the loss.
Martin drove in the first run in the second inning after working a 1-2 count full.
The freshman smacked a liner over the head of the Cougar second baseman to plate Kira Northcutt, who was courtesy running for Simpson after the catcher drew a two-out walk.
Gildea scored the Tigers’ second run in the fourth inning after a Spanish Springs defensive error.
Hill plated Martin in the seventh on a single, but it served as the final run of the game for Douglas.
“Some things fell for us and some things didn’t,” said Meyer. “We were hoping for that one big hit that would get us going, but our offense worked today. They did battle. We just didn’t get that timely stuff to score what we needed.”