By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

CANBY, Ore.–  They were in both of their games Tuesday at Canby High School.  Not just in games, but having a lead in both games.

Though the results weren’t in their favor, you can see the improvements in the McKay Softball program since Scott Coons took over the program.  A program that hasn’t won a softball game since beating North Salem 9-3 on May 5, 2014.

But improvement was there against 4A’s Molalla, it was present more so than in any of their previous two games of the season as they took a 6-4 lead in the Bottom of the second after going down four in the opening half of the first inning.

Riley Thompson wasn’t afraid of pounding the zone as the junior struck out five as slowly the Indians knotted it up entering the sixth inning.

“It was tough because we made a couple of errors and it was it was really tough,” said Thompson.  “But I knew that they would come back from those errors and back me up and they would help me through the inning.”

The Scots errors in their first three games went from 12 to five to three against Mollala as they’re balls in play went up.  From eight Game one to 32 versus the Indiana as they had a bases loaded situation as part of a two out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning down 12-7 before a groundout ended the game at 12-7.

“As a team, we came together more, we’re talking a lot more and I feel like we’re trusting each other and ourselves,” said Thompson.

“Emotionally we were starting to ride in a better pocket and I think that’s where it was at,” adds Coons.  “We were more aggressive.  Offensively we were more aggresive.”

Coons, who’s familiar with the softball program being the Volleyball Head Coach as well and just being around the McKay campus, has seen how this team has progressed since last season as they look to travel to Parkrose Monday before taking on North Salem to start Greater Valley Conference play on Tuesday at North.

“This is our second time on the field and already I’m seeing massive increases in the way to girls work as a team,” said Coons.  “The way they’re a little more engage.  They’re there taking it more to heart then they did last year and we added a third team this year which is going to help the growth of the program all together.

“So I would say all together, we’re so surpassing the last year and we’ve barely scratched the surface.”

The first pitch for the Parkrose game is at 5pm.

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Photos By Jeremy McDonald