By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

INDEPENDENCE, Ore.—Central Freshman Lily McCormick helped her cause out Friday afternoon in the Panthers non-league finale against Century.

Her pitching, the Central defense was on-point coming off of their tough 11-8 defeat to Beaverton Wednesday as McCormick’s 2RBI’s on 2-for-4 hitting led the team early on with the Panthers leading 3-1 going into the sixth inning.  There’s a feeling that they’re just beginning to make the turn towards the posi

“It felt really good because we’re starting to get a feel on how each other’s playing together as a team and just knowing that we can work as a team and be good as a team,” McCormick said.  “We just got to stay strong together and we can do anything together.”

The other run came in the bottom of the second inning when Katie Seidel scored off an error.

In the circle, McCormick struck out ten in the complete game effort.  Helping to keep the Jaguars at bay with Central putting more distance between themselves and Century in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Hadley Craig scored Naturelle Perez off a one-out single, Perez led off the inning reaching base off an error.  Emily Newbeck followed up Craig’s RBI with a single before Peyton Foreman hit one over the center field fence, driving Craig and Newbeck home as well.

It was all part of an inning that saw four of their seven runs and four of their 11 hits occur in the frame.

“I think a lot of it was our mental stance at the plate and stuff and just being able to attack pitches,” Kaitlyn Brian said.  “Other than that, our defensive stuff was good too.  But mainly it was our plate appearance that really helped us in this game.

“Just taking this momentum that we have in this game and just taking the momentum and keep rolling with it.”

Brian led the team with three hits while going 3-for-4 batting with the squad now entering Mid-Willamette Conference play sitting 5-3 on the year.  They’ll host North Salem Monday in hopes to carry this momentum over to their league opener against the Vikings.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald