By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  The West Salem softball team’s offense was on fire in their season-opening victory against Forest Grove Tuesday afternoon at West Salem High School in their 12-9 victory.  Scoring in every inning in the game coming off of Monday’s jamboree at Lake Oswego on 14 total hits.

Mia Zachary, Mya Williams, Celina Bell and Ava Pilgrim combined for eight of those 14 hits with each contributing two hits apiece.

“We had really good energy throughout the whole game, we just kept it up and we didn’t get down on ourselves.  Doing so well in jamboree we just kept it going and I think we continue to do what we’re doing with our offense and get our D up some more, I think we’ll be solid,” Pilgrim said.

The junior in Pilgrim led the Titans with 4RBI’s, and the squad needed each run they scored as the Vikings took too where hitting the ball and challenging West Salem’s defense right out of the gate.  At one point, Forest Grove rallied from 4-2 down to lead 5-4 going into the bottom of the fourth inning before the Titans scored eight of the game’s final 12 runs.  West finished the game faced with a bases loaded jam with two outs by forcing a fielder’s choice at home that ended the game.  

The game served as a good eye-opener going into Thursday’s road trip to Dallas to play the Dragons in a few days with first pitch happening at 5pm.

“It was a good eye-opener to see what we can and need to work on.  I have a lot of confidence in our team that we’ll be able to make it far because our hitting is so much better than last year.  It shows that our team can work together,” Zachary said.  “We can definitely work on the little things…situational stuff like when to throw it, when to hold it.  But overall, it’s just the little things that we need to work on.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald