Softball Sweep Highline – Moves into Second place

The nice weather at the end of last week allowed Green River softball to catch up in their schedule. After losing two games to first place Pierce College, the Gators played four games in two days with Highline College winning all four and moving their league record to 8-4. Sophomore pitcher/shortstop Caitlyn Duggan is undefeated on the rubber for GRCC while leadoff hitter Carrie Crookshank is pacing the team with a .494 batting average. The Gators will face the formidable Raiders from Pierce College once again this Tuesday to position themselves for the playoff run.

Baseball Splits Four Game Weekend

On Saturday GRCC Baseball played host to long time rival Tacoma CC. GRCC pitching ace David Macey started game one and kept the Titans at bay for eight innings, however two errors contributed to a 4-2 defeat. Macey gave up zero earned runs and struck out five. Game two Jake Shadle hit the mound and pitched six innings of shutout baseball before the combination of Nate O’Bryan and Sean Goforth closed out the 2-0 victory for GRCC. Freshman centerfielder Tanner Neilsen scored a run and had a RBI single in the sixth inning to contribute to the positive margin.

Sunday brought the Centralia Trailblazers to town for a doubleheader in perfect weather. In the first game, Centralia took a 4-1 lead and then opened it up in the sixth with four more runs on their way to a 10-2 loss for the Gators. Sophomore first baseman, John Boire did hit a home run for GRCC in the contest. In game two, the Gators dramatically erased a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind and win 4-3. Freshman leftfielder, Nick Coale jumped on a fastball and sent it out of the park to start the momentum shift for the Gators. Sophomore Connor Cook followed up with a double of the wall to score Tyler Conklin to even the score at 3-3.. With only one out, the Trailblazer pitching staff imploded by walking the next two batters before sealing their fate by hitting Corwin Patis and sending the game winner across home plate.

Green River (7-4) now faces a huge three game series with Lower Columbia College (8-2) this weekend. Saturday GRCC will travel to Longview for a doubleheader starting at 1:00, before returning on Sunday to play the third game at Auburn Mountainview HS at 1:00.

Women’s Golf Wins Wenatchee Tournament

Starting the second round of the NWAACC Wenatchee League Match, the Green River women held a seven shot lead over defending NWAACC champion Spokane. Paced behind three outstanding sophomores, the Gators held off the charging Sasquatch by two shots. Gator Carla Martinson won medalist honors after a one hole playoff, while Annie Viola finished in third overall. After leading the Gators on day one, Courtney Tappon finished the tournament in ninth place. The golf team will next face off with Spokane this weekend at the Bigfoot Classic on Spokane’s home course.

Men’s Tennis Stays Undefeated

The Gator men polished off their skills with a 5-4 team victory on Sunday at Skagit Valley. Managing to just win one of three doubles matches, the Gators needed to pick up the slack in singles. The Gators got the needed victories from #2 Daniel Cottton, #3 Brandon Oyama, #5 Colton Belmondo and #6 Saleh Tafesh to secure the team victory. Green River will next put their 3-0 record on the line Friday when they host ever difficult Spokane at Sprinker Tennis Center in Spanaway.

For more information on NWAACC sports, standings, and results… go to www.nwaacc.org