Lady Wave off to rough start

The Lady Wave had their first softball games of the season over the weekend, going 1-4 in a preseason tournament in California.

The team’s first game Thursday was against Fairfield, Calif.’s Vanden Vikings; the Vikings swept Fallon 3-0. The second game of the day, against Carson High, from Carson City, Nev., was much closer, though another loss, 5-4 — Both teams played well, quickly tagging runners out. For Fallon, Hannah Hitchcock, Caitlyn Welch and Alexis Jarrett broke through to circle the bases and land runs.

On Friday, the Wave was crushed by Pleasant Grove, 12-3. The Eagles came out strong, rushing through multiple runs in each inning; Jarrett brought runs through again along with Jorden Byers and Stacy Kalt.

Fallon’s fortune changed in the second game. The Wave took on the Rodriguez Mustangs, coming out on top 5-2. Fallon blew out in the first inning, taking a score of 4-0 before the third out. The teams were well matched for most of the game with neither bringing runners home, though the Mustangs scored two runs in the third inning and the Lady Wave made a final one in the fifth. Welch, Faith Cornmesser, Byers and Jarrett pushed the team to victory.

The victory was short lived, though, as Fallon faced another 6-2 defeat at the hands of Roseville’s Oakmont Vikings. The game was close, at 1-1 for most of the game, but in the fifth inning the Vikings outscored the wave 4-1. Shelbi Schultz and Cornmesser made Fallon’s runs.

Fallon coach Tammie Shemenski said there were good and bad aspects to the team’s weekend. She said they’re still adjusting to each other and there are some kinks to work out. She recalled there were routine plays that had errors and the players needed to be more aware of what’s coming. She also said their confidence needs some work.

“If the team had just half the confidence I have in them, they will be unstoppable,” Shemenski said.

Yet there were some positives. She said they had impressive plays in the infield and the outfield hustled to get the ball.

“We just need to tie it all together in one game and stay consistent every game,” she said. “Our team is very versatile and that is one of our strongest points.”

Fallon plays its first game of the regular season tomorrow at 4 p.m. at home. They also play a double header Friday at 2 p.m.

The coach sees good things for the team as the regular season gets going. Shemenski said the players are close and have an “unbreakable sisterhood among them.” She said she expects the team to only get stronger.