Bulldogs softball sweep Chewelah at home

COLFAX - The Colfax Bulldogs prevailed during their busy week with three wins.

Colfax softball defeated Potlatch 20-10 in a game on Tuesday, April 16, then lost two straight against the Northwest Christian (Colbert) Crusaders, 3-13, 7-8.

After the losses to the Crusaders, the Bulldogs took down the Chewelah Cougars in two straight games, 14-4, 24-3.

The game against the Potlatch Loggers was played on Tuesday, April 16, in Colfax.

Colfax scored at least one run in each of the five innings played on the day, including six runs in both the second and fourth innings, and four runs in the first inning.

Although the Bulldogs defeated the Loggers by 10 runs, Colfax had eight hits, where as the Loggers had seven. Colfax walked 11 times in the game, with the Loggers walking no times on the day.

Kirsten Akesson pitched all five innings for Colfax in the victory. She allowed 10 runs, none earned, on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Grace Jones led the way for the Bulldogs on the offensive end with two hits for two RBIs. Harley Hennigar had one hit for three RBIs with one walk.

Gracie Bofto also had two RBIs in the game with one walk.

The next games for Colfax was their double-header match-up against the Crusaders. Both games were played on Thursday, April 18, in Colfax.

Game one was a 13-3 loss for the Bulldogs.

Colfax took a 2-1 lead to the fourth inning before the Crusaders scored a run to tie the game at two.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Crusaders exploded for 11 runs to take the 13-3 victory.

Bofto picked up the loss for the Bulldogs with six earned runs on four hits with four walks in two-thirds innings.

Akesson pitched the first four-and-a-third innings. She allowed seven runs, three earned, on six hits with two strikeouts.

Colfax managed just five hits in the game. No Bulldog batter had more than one hit, with Keilena Nelson, Brenna Gilchrist, Akesson, Hennigar and Jones each holding one hit.

Hennigar picked up the lone RBI in the game for Colfax.

The final game in the double-header series saw Colfax trail 3-7 heading into the final inning of play.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Colfax rallied for four runs, but could not score one more to tie the game, falling by one to the Crusaders.

Bofto took the mound for all seven innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, on 12 hits and five walks. Bofto would strikeout one batter in the game.

Colfax would have eight hits in the game, led by three from Ainsley Imler, who also picked up an RBI on the day.

After the series against the Crusaders, Colfax dominated two games against Chewelah.

The games were played on Friday, April 19, with Colfax out-scoring 38-7 combined in both games played in Colfax.

Game one was a 14-4 victory for Colfax, with the Bulldogs scoring 11 total runs in the first and second innings.

Chewelah did not score a run in the game until the third inning, and the game lasted just five innings.

Hennigar pitched all five innings for Colfax, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and strikeouts.

Colfax were out-hit 5-4 in the game, but only had one defensive error, while Chewelah had eight.

Ava Swan, Isabella Huntley and Ella Jones each had two RBIs in the game.

Colfax would follow their 10-run victory with a convincing 24-3 victory, where the game lasted just four innings.

Colfax scored nine runs in the first inning, eight in the second inning and seven runs in the third inning before no-hitting the Cougars.

Chewelah had 14 defensive errors in the game compare to one from Colfax.

Swan and Braelynn Penwell combined for the Bulldogs no-hitter.

Swan pitched three innings, allowing three earned runs on no hits with five walks. Swan struck-out five batters on the day.

For Penwell, she pitched one inning, walking one batter and striking out another.

Swan would also hit a home run in the game, she finished with three RBIs.

The next game for Colfax will be played on Saturday, April 27, for a double-header against Reardan. The games will be in Reardan, set to start at noon and 2 p.m.

Colfax then will play Freeman Tuesday, April 30, in Freeman at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs softball team are currently 18th in 2B based off RPI standings. With just a few games left in the regular season before districts and state playoffs, the Bulldogs will look to finish the season strong, and lean on their leaders.

Their leaders, Akesson, Hennigar and Gilchrist, will all need to step up late in the season if the Bulldogs want to return to the state tournament in Yakima as they did last season.