Sports

McNary girls varsity softball on track for a stellar season

This year’s McNary High School girls varsity softball team has already racked up five non-league wins since their opening 4-2 victory over Roseburg High School in Grants Pass on March 15. Their only real disappointment to the season so far was a 4-5 loss to Grants Pass High School on the same away trip.

The girls responded by winning four games in a row in dominant fashion, starting with a 13-2 win over West Linn High School on March 16.

The team represented the 6A-6 Mountain Valley Conference against squads from all over the region in the Jesuit/Sunset Varsity Softball Tournament March 21-22, opening with back-to-back shellackings of La Salle Prep (17-4) and and Sunset High School (18-4). The following day, March 22, they repeated their performance by beating Camas High School 15-2, and then Liberty High School (score unavailable), sweeping the non-league tournament.

“We’ve had a great start to the season,” said Kelly Parsell, McNary Girls Softball Head Coach. “In six games, we’ve scored a combined 71 runs and hit eight home runs. The girls come to practice ready to learn and are visibly getting better each day. This is a special group of girls – they play hard and have fun while doing it.”

The team’s starting pitcher, Lacey Vasas, was on the mound for 32 innings while maintaining a 1.53 ERA over the last five games. Batting average leaders include Heather Ebner, at .524, with seven doubles and four home runs; and Madison Morse, batting .611 since the opening game.

The Celtics have one more non-league game this month, facing Jesuit High School on March 30 in Beaverton. They finish their non-league play in the first part of April at Tigard High School on April 1; followed by two home games against Tualatin High School, April 4, and Newberg High School on April 7; and then at Westview High School on April 11.

League play opens against McKay High School on April 12 in Salem. The Celtics are currently ranked #26 by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).