Raider Softball rolling toward playoffs
April 27, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
With half of the league schedule comfortably in the record book, the Raider Softball team is well on their way to their first appearance at the NWAACC Championship Tournament since the 1995 season. Following their doubleheader sweep of Green River on Wednesday (27-1, 14-2), the Raiders are tied for first place atop the Western Division with a 13-3 record.
Leading the way for Pierce are sophomores Yukari Kuranuki and Rachel Kalac. The two are tied for the team lead in home runs with seven each. Kuranuki leads the team in batting with a .423 avereage, and in runs batted in with 35. Kalac, who anchors the infield at shortstop is batting .352 and has 28 rbi's. Freshmen Kayla Jayne, Sarah Curley, Tiffany Qualls and Ashley Svarthumle are having outstanding seasons as well. Jayne is proving to be a great leadoff hitter, batting .366 and leading the team in doubles and triples, second in home runs with five. Curley is batting .373 and is third on the team in runs batted in. Svarthumle is batting .330, and has shown good power with four home runs. Qualls is batting .397 but has been limited by a nagging injury. Freshman Sarah Pruitt has carried the load of the pitching duties, collecting a 13-12 overall record with a 6.89 earned run average. However, she has stepped things up in league play, going 11-2 with one save.
The Raiders have 14 games left on their league schedule and all signs point to a trip to the NWAACC Tournament at Delta Park in Portland beginning May 19. The Raiders are home this Saturday against Grays Harbor. Game time is at 1:00 p.m. at Clover Park High School.
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