COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (4-2) earned a pair of strong victories over Mary Walker in Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader. The Warriors dominated the weekend, winning the first game 15-0 and the second game 17-2. 

“It went really good,” said Warriors Head Coach Faye Butler. “We knew that we were pretty safe going into it, so I was able to play some younger players just to give them some experience.” 

The Warriors got off to a hot start in game one, holding Mary Walker scoreless in the top of the first inning and going on to score 14 in the bottom of the inning.  

During the first inning, Warriors player Josie Bayless hit an inside the park home run that scored two, Grace Erickson batted in two runs on a single and Hannah Brummett singled, scoring one. Sadie Whitaker, Grace Okamoto and Bayless were both struck by pitches and each drove in a run, Peyton Roberts drew a walk to score one run, Madison Brink tripled to score three, Emma Brummett doubled to score one and Erickson singled for a run. 

ACH kept Mary Walker scoreless once again in the second inning, and Roberts drew a walk in the bottom of the inning to add another score onto the Warriors side. ACH held the opposition scoreless in the second and third innings, ending the game in the third with a shutout 15-0 victory. 

Okamoto started on the mound for the Warriors where she allowed zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out four and walking one. Brink followed up in relief pitching the third inning with zero hits, zero runs, zero walks and three strikeouts. 

The second game started similarly to the first as ACH held Mary Walker scoreless in the top of the first inning. When up to bat the Warriors went on a tear to score 16 runs in the bottom of the first.  

Bayless drove in a run off a single, Brink doubled scoring two, Erickson drew a walk to score and Savannah Monson singled for a score. Josie Emerson, Okamoto, Bayless, Roberts and Brink all drew walks with each scoring a run, Emma Brummett was struck by a pitch driving in a run, Erickson singled, a wild pitch scored a run, Hannah Brumett singled scoring two and Okamoto grounded out to score. 

Mary Walker got their first score of the afternoon in the top of the second inning with back to back runs to bring the score to 16-2. The Warriors went scoreless in the second inning. 

In the top of the third inning, Mary Walker was unable to score and with another ACH run in the bottom of the third the game ended 17-2. 

Brink stepped onto the mound first for the Warriors where she gave up three hits and two runs over two innings while striking out six and walking one. Okamoto pitched relief in the third inning where she had zero hits, zero runs, zero walks and three strike outs thrown to close out the game. 

Butler said this was a good victory for the Warriors as they had just come off 1-6 and 2-13 losses the day before against Liberty Christian, the team that took second in state last season.  

As ACH comes off two big wins Saturday, the coach said she wants the team to recognize the importance of giving their full effort in games, even when they are ahead. 

“One of our things (we’re) constantly working on is, we play our game no matter what the score is. That we keep that consistency, that mental game, the emotional game of keeping that stable,” said Butler.  

Something that she said the Warriors have done a great job of in the early season is stepping up to play in whatever position they are needed in. Butler has had to do some moving around as she figures out the starting positions, such as moving the center fielder to shortstop and shortstop to catcher, but each of the players fulfills their role. 

“They've been very willing to work together no matter what we need to do, and they don’t love the switch up, but they’re willing to do it and willing to work hard,” said the coach.  

The Warriors enjoy some time off while on spring break this week but Butler said once the team gets back on their regular schedule, they will aim to continue developing the infield and getting the girls ready to hit off any pitch as they make their way deeper into the season. 

“I feel like so far they’re willing to do whatever is needed to put this team together to get as far as we can this year,” she said. 

ACH returns to the diamond April 14 as they head on the road to face Wellpinit in a doubleheader. The first game of the afternoon begins at 2 p.m. 

BOX SCORE 

GAME ONE 

MRYW: 0-0-0: 0 

ACHW: 14-1-0: 0 

GAME TWO 

MRYW: 0-2-0: 2 

ACHW: 16-0-1: 17

    ACH pitcher Grace Okamoto delivers the pitch to the Mary Walker batter Saturday afternoon.
  

    Savannah Monson (10) from ACH tags out the Mary Walker runner on third base during the doubleheader Saturday.
  

    Grace Erickson from the Warriors hits the ball during Saturday afternoon’s game against Mary Walker.