In a memorable senior night for the Battle Ground softball team, the Tigers earned a 12-0 victory against Mountain View on Wednesday, May 10.
Battle Ground’s senior pitcher Rylee Rehbein started in the circle and went for three and two-thirds innings. Rehbein allowed two hits with seven strikeouts and no walks on 45 pitches thrown, with 33 of them being strikes.
Candice Adams got the offense started for Battle Ground in the bottom of the second inning with a base hit to left field. Adams was named one of the athletes of the week by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association on Thursday, May 11.
Senior night really got started after Rehbein beat out a throw from Mountain View’s shortstop for an infield hit with two outs in the bottom of the third.
Senior Katelyn Swanson followed up with a single to left field that advanced runner Kristine Brigance to second base. With two runners on and two outs, senior Annali Lindersmith showed bunt, which brought the third baseman in on the play, allowing Brigance to steal third and Swanson to steal second base.
Annali Lindersmith rounded off the senior section of the batting order with a single to center field that scored both runners for a 2-0 lead. Seyah Lindersmith then drove in Annali Lindersmith with a double to left field.
The Tigers totaled 15 hits in four and two-thirds innings played before the 12-run total was met. Annali Lindersmith led with three hits and four RBIs. Swanson, Seyah Lindersmith, Candice Adams and Lorelei Brown each had two hits in the game.
After Rehbein was replaced in the circle with an out left to go in the fourth inning, Hailey Ferguson came in to throw one and one-third innings. Ferguson gave up no hits with two strikeouts and no walks on 19 pitches.
The three seniors on the varsity team will continue to play softball in college. Swanson will go to Lower Columbia College, Annali Lindersmith will play at Clark College and Rehbein will go to the University of Montana.
“I’m going to miss this field, this team, our energy and all of our game rituals we do and we only do it here,” Swanson said.
When asked what she will miss the most about playing softball at Battle Ground High School, Rehbein said it’s the energy.
“I’m going to miss the chemistry we all have together that we built over four years and all the support and love that we have for each other,” Annali Lindersmith added.
The fourth senior for the Tigers, Trinity Muir, played on the junior varsity squad and will enlist in the U.S. Navy after high school.
