Everett opened up the 2019 campaign with a tough slate of competition facing two playoff teams from last season, Clackamas Community College and NWAC runners up Lower Columbia College. For a team featuring all freshman this would be a good early season test for a young group of talent and a good measuring stick against high caliber NWAC teams.
Two games were slated for Saturday and two for Sunday at Bellevue College despite the threat of heavy rain and intermitent showers throughout the weekend. The all turf field allowed for play to continue for most of the weekend and three of the four games were completed.
In the first game, Everett faced Clackamas Community College a program that advanced to the top 12 a season ago and has earned a trip to the NWAC playoffs every since season 1999. The young Trojan squad drove in a run in the top of the 1st off of a Megan Parsley single, but the experienced Cougars answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the 1st and proceeded to tack on 8 more runs in the second inning taking advantage of 7 walks. The first game of the season ended with a 9-1 defeat after 5 innings. Cathy Zaragoza came in to pitch in relief and threw well going 3.1 innings with just two hits and 1 earned run.
The second game on Saturday was scheduled against Lower Columbia College, another top tier program in the NWAC and perenial title contender of the last several years. A heavy rain halted the game in the 6th inning, with an exciting 8-8 game. Currently there are no plans to make up the pre-season contest.
Sunday promised slightly better weather and the Trojans got their rematch against Clackamas. Pitching struggles continued for Everett, but despite giving up 9 runs, the Trojans answered with 11 of their own on 14 hits. Megan Parsley had a huge game going 3-5 with 5 RBI's a double and a home run. Alyson Roberson also had a good game going 3-4, drawing a walk and 3 RBI's.
In the final game of the weekend against Lower Columbia, the Red Devils jumped all over the Trojans scoring 13 runs in the first three innings before tacking on another 5 to push across 18 total runs on 12 hits. Walks again plagued the Trojan pitchers with 10 total through 4 innings. Offensively EvCC drove in 3 runs on 5 hits. Once again Megan Parsley had the big game going 2-3 with two doubles and two RBI's. Alyson Roberson drove in the other run on a 1-2 day with a walk.
The Trojans will return to action March 8th and 9th in Lacey, WA at the Inter-Region Tournament. On Friday, March 8th the will play Chemeketa CC out of Salem, OR at 3:00pm and then Mt. Hood CC out of Gresham, OR at 5:30pm. Then on Saturday, March 9th they will face Centralia College at 9:00am followed by Wenatchee Valley College at 2:00pm. Three of the four team the Trojans face were playoff teams last year.