The Lincoln East Varsity Softball team had a busy week last week, playing games against Southeast and Grand Island during the week, and playing in a 5-team invitational over the weekend. 

The Spartans had a split against Southeast on Tuesday, September 19, at Doris Bair Softball Complex in Lincoln. The girls won their first game, 5-0. The winning pitcher was senior Lindsay Elliott. The second game was a different story. The Spartans were up 7-1 in the fourth inning before Southeast took advantage of a dip in the Spartan’s defensive energy and came back to win the game, 10-8, and earn the split.  The losing pitcher was Elliott.

On Thursday the 21st, East traveled to Grand Island and showed determination. The first game was close, and it came down to the last inning. The Spartans prevailed, 9-8. The winning pitcher was again Lindsay Elliott. The second game was the polar opposite of the first game. The Spartans couldn’t do a lot to get back in the game, losing 13-5 and taking another split for the week. The losing pitcher was sophomore Emily Prai.

The first game in the Southeast invite was against Elkhorn. The Spartans won 5-1 in a timed 90 minute game. Lindsay Elliott was the winning pitcher. The second game of the tournament was against number one ranked Papillion LaVista. The first inning for the Spartans was filled with error after error causing four out of five runs to score that were unearned. After two innings the score was 7-0. Senior pitcher (yours truly!) CJ Bates came in for the third inning. This was the first time pitching since her second hip surgery this last summer. She pitched four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out two in her first appearance. The final score was 7-2 Papillion LaVista. Losing pitcher was Madison Skiles. In the final game against Norfolk, the Spartans won 4-1, with Elliott once again picking up the win.

The Spartans have their last six games before districts this week, starting with their “Senior Night” doubleheader on at Doris Bair on Tuesday, September 26 against Northeast, followed by a doubleheader against Southwest on Thursday, September 28 and a doubleheader against Bellevue West on Saturday, September 30. All games will be played at Doris Bair Softball Complex in Lincoln.