ETNA – The Etna Lady Lions hosted the Chiloquin Queens on Monday, and lost by a deuce, 6-4, in a game of missed opportunities and errors.

Chiloquin put a run on the board in the first inning, but the Lady Lions quickly answered back. Ashley Parry reached on an error, stole second, and advanced to third on a ground out by Nicole Luiz. Tracy Thackeray singled to bring Parry home and tie the score at 1-1. Chloe Papazian and Elli Pynes both walked and Etna had the bases jammed. The next two batters, however, fanned and the threat of a huge inning was repelled.

The Queens had base runners in both the second and third innings, but did not score. Etna went down in order in both innings.

The Queens scored three runs in the fourth inning, on a hit, two walks, and two errors, to take the lead 4-1. Pynes led off the bottom of the inning for Etna, with a walk. She advanced to second and third via steals. Paige Finley popped out to short, and Kacey Munson walked. Then, Etna pulled off a double steal, with Munson going to second, and Pynes scoring from third to make it 4-2, after four innings.

The first Queen batter singled in the top of the fifth, but was erased on a fielder’s choice. The batter who reached on the fielder’s choice was caught stealing. The next batter singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Ashley Page, who had relieved starting pitcher Finley, whiffed the next hitter to end the fifth inning, with the score standing at 4-2 for the Queens.

Thackeray led off the Lady Lions fifth, with a ground out, but Papazian reached on an error, and stole second. Pynes singled to drive in Papazian, and cut the margin to a single run, 4-3. Pynes advanced to second on the throw home, and stole third. Then, with Finley at the plate, Etna executed a suicide squeeze play to perfection. Pynes scored from third, and Finley reached on an error. Finley stole second and third, but the next batter fanned. Brittney Potter walked, and Shasta Hinkle was hit by a pitch giving the Lady Lions their second bases loaded situation of the game. The next batter struck out, and the game was tied 4-4 going into the final frame.

Chiloquin converted four hits and a passed ball during an intentional walk into two runs to take the lead 6-4. Etna had two batters reach on walks in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to bring them home, making the final 6-4.

Pynes and Papazian were both 1/2, with a run and two walks. Pynes had four swipes, and Papazian had one. Pynes had an RBI. Thackeray went 1/3, with a run, an RBI and a walk. Parry scored a run and had a steal. Finley had a sac RBI, and two steals.

Finley was the starting pitcher and went four innings (4R, 5H, 2BB, 3K, HB). Page went three innings in relief and was tagged with the loss (2R, 6H, 2BB, 2K).

The Lady Lions are 8-5 this season and will play a double-header for the Shasta Cascade League opener at Mt. Shasta on Friday, March 21. Game one starts at 2:00 pm.