UPPER LAKE — The first slugfest of the 2012 high school softball season took place Friday afternoon in Upper Lake where the Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Lower Lake Trojans 17-16 in non-league action.
Batting with no outs and two on in the bottom of the seventh, Amber McQueen tripled off the center fielder”s glove to bring home the tying and winning runs. It was part of a three-hit day for McQueen (3-for-4, 3 RBI), one of only two seniors on the Upper Lake roster. The other senior, Kat Edmonds, pitched the first three and final two innings to pick up the victory.
“I was so nervous for the game, not knowing what I had,” Upper Lake coach Kelly Coburn said of a green roster that includes five freshmen.
One of those freshmen, LaShaye Taylor, went 2-for-4 with a grand slam to right-center field, part of an eight-run first for the Cougars (1-0).
Kate Irwin also went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs for Upper Lake in its season debut.
The game featured five lead changes.
Johanna Simondi was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the seventh. Taylor followed with a single and McQueen tripled, connecting on an 0-1 offering from losing pitcher Amanda Graf.
Graf, a junior, went the distance, striking out seven and walking 15. Edmonds struck out one and walked two.
Katlyn Mintel went 3-for-4 with two RBI and scored five times for Lower Lake (2-1). Savannah Koch went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs.
