Douglas softball rolls past North Valleys

MINDEN -- Katie Pagen is on a roll, and that's bad news for Sierra League hitters.

Pagen allowed only four hits in five innings, and helped herself at the plate with a two-run single to lead Douglas High to an easy 7-0 win over North Valleys in a Sierra League softball game Tuesday afternoon.

Pagen, who fanned 16 and blanked Carson 6-0 last Thursday, allowed only one runner as far as third base. She gave way to Kayla Dunn, who allowed only one hit over the final two innings.

The win gives the Tigers a 2-1 record heading into Friday's doubleheader with defending league champion Wooster and ace pitcher Brianne McGowan.

"I think I've improved (from last year)," Pagen said. "I've been taking pitching lessons. I've been working on different pitches and different spins. I throw six pitches, but I only used four of them today.

"I was hitting my spots prettymuch today. There were a couple of pitches that got away from me."

The six-strikeout, no-walk performance earned kudos from coach Rick Smith.

"She's like in midseason form," he said. "She hit the spots. They put the bat on the ball, and did a great job of putting into play, but they didn't hit the ball hard (often).

"She's got another year of experience under her belt. She stays calm. She doesn't care if the bases are loaded and there are no outs, because she has the confidence in herself that she can get the next three hitters."

Her teammates made her job much easier when they scored three first-inning runs off starter and loser Nicole Ellis.

After one out, Cheryl Nicoll walked, stole second and moved to third on Valerie Smith's fielder's choice. Smith moved to second when the throw after the force went awry, and was replaced by courtesy runner Missy Kaplan. Both runners scored on Dunn's scorcher up the middle.

Ashley Arneson drove in Dunn with a single, the first of her two RBIs.

"That helped me knowing I didn't have to worry about their hits," Pagen said.

Douglas made it 6-0 in the third, scoring three more runs against Ellis. After one out, Brittany Puzey reached on an error and moved to third on Smith's single to right centerfield. Smith was replaced on the basepaths by Kaplan. Dunn walked to load the bases. Arneson forced out Puzey at home. Kaplan scored on a passed ball, and Pagen followed with a chopper over third base, scoring Dunn and Arneson.

Douglas scored its final run after two outs in the fifth. Dunn walked, was wild-pitched to second and scored on Arneson's single.