Softball season has come to a bittersweet end here at SCC.
The Dolphins lost both of their first games on the first day of the NWAACC softball playoffs. In the first game, they lost to championship game participants Clackamas Community College 8-0.
In the second game they were eliminated by Walla Walla Community College with a score of 11-3. “I thought we played well in the beginning of both games,” Coach Lance Swehla said.
Unfortunately that didn’t last.
“The rest of the time we played just-okay, and just didn’t get it done,” Swehla said. “You can’t just play ‘okay,’ you have to play well against good teams like Clackamas and Walla Walla.”
Catcher Vallen Brewer was also frustrated by the early exit. “It was frustrating, I thought we could have played a lot better,” Brewer said. “I think we also took too many strikes.
I think we weren’t aggressive enough offensively and defensively, I just didn’t feel that we were absolutely prepared to play.” Second baseman Chelsea Lindroth was more disappointed that frustrated in the outcome. “I thought we could have played better and it was disappointing that we lost, but they were both great teams,” she said.
As frustrated and disappointed the Dolphins were, they made the most of their trip to Portland. “We went to the Portland market and that was cool,” Swehla said. “We also got to enjoy Voodoo Donuts.”
Brewer also got a couple of positives out of the playoffs. “We worked really well together and it was a really good experience for the future,” Brewer said. “The banquet is one thing that will stand out,” added Lindroth. “We all got dressed up and it was a lot of fun to bond over
. Also, all the players were acknowledged by the coaches at the banquet, which was nice.” At the banquet five players were awarded with all-star awards.
Brewer, along with pitcher and outfielder Sophie Overlach-Pauley, were awarded with first team honors. Pitcher and infielder Alia Kelly, Lindroth and catcher and third baseman Nicole Reyling were awarded with second team honors. SCC ended the season with a 19-20 record and finished fourth in the northern region. That doesn’t mean that Swehla and assistant coach Athea Surface are taking a break.
“Right now, we are focusing on the returning players and recruiting for next season,” Swehla said. There are five players leaving next year and multiple key players returning. “There are some really good players returning next year that we will work with,” Swehla said.
As disappointing and frustrating the playoffs were for Swehla and his squad, this team really had a lot of positives.
A lot of the players have said they have become best friends with one another and are almost like sisters that will have bonds for years.
“Through the injuries and everything else the team went through, we did pretty good I think,” Swehla said proudly.
Ben Goldstein Sports Editor
