WEED – The Weed Lady Cougars softball squad gave the Modoc Lady Braves (6-4, 13-10) all they could handle in double-header action, last Friday. Modoc prevailed 1-0 in game-one, and 4-1 in game-two.

Game-one was a well-pitched and well played game by both sides, with both squads going three-up and three-down in the first two innings. Modoc led off with a base hit in the top of the third inning, and had the runner advance as far as second base, but that was the extent of the threat.

Lori Garcia led off the bottom half with a walk for Weed. Garcia then stole second base, and went to third on a wild pitch, with no outs. The next Lady Cougar batter, Megan Deegan, put the ball in play to the left side. Garcia attempted to score on the ground ball, but was tagged out at home plate. Deegan reached on a fielder’s choice. With one out, Kaylin Brunson singled and Deegan moved to second. Deegan moved to third and Brunson to second base on a passed ball, but Weed was unable to bring either runner home.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. Weed pitcher Mindi Chandler struck out Modoc’s lead off batter looking. The next batter lined out to Madison Moser at third base. However, with two down, the Lady Braves picked up a double, which was followed by a triple to score the game’s only run. Weed went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Cougars made solid contact with the ball twice. Kelsie Moser led off with a line drive that was snared by the Modoc third baseman. Chandler ripped a double to left-center field. The next Weed batter popped up for the second out. Then, Sierra Skeen hit a looping liner near the right-field line that appeared destined to drop in for a hit, and drive home Chandler for the tying score. Unfortunately for the Lady Cougars, the Modoc right-fielder made a nice running catch to end the game, 1-0.

Chandler went 1-3, with a double for Weed. Garcia was 1-2, with a steal. Brunson went 1-3. Chandler went the distance and was tagged with the loss, despite an excellent effort (7IP, ER, 5H, BB, 3K).

In game-two, Modoc scored a run in the top of the third, and Weed scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. Modoc scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning, to take the 4-1 victory.

The Lady Cougars are now 1-7 in the Shasta Cascade League, and 5-11 overall. Weed will travel to Weaverville to play the Trinity Lady Wolves (1-7, 5-14) on Saturday, May 3.

More details and stats for game-two will be posted when available.