Lindsey leaving her mark
Published 6:32 pm Thursday, June 4, 2015
- Staff photo by Kathy Aney Darian Lindsey, of Pendleton, rounds third base after hitting a home run Saturday against The Dalles-Wahtonka at Steve Cary Field.
Tim Cary quit being surprised by Darian Lindsey about four years ago.
That was around the time the diminutive freshman infielder entered the Buckaroo softball program, helped guide them to the school’s first state championship and earned the state’s Player of the Year honor to boot.
“We weren’t sure if (her freshman year) could ever be topped,” Cary said. “She put up a little bit better numbers her sophomore year, a little bit better her junior year and then has put up phenomenal numbers her senior year.”
Lindsey has rewritten the Pendleton single-season softball record book this spring. She shattered the school’s marks in hits (63), singles (41), stolen bases (34) and runs scored (61). More records could fall in Saturday morning’s state final against top-seeded Putnam. Her twelve home runs match fellow Buckaroo senior Tiah Grass’ mark from a year ago and her 106 at-bats are just two short of older sister Shea Lindsey’s record from 2012.
“I’m just leaving it all on the field this year, at least definitely trying to,” she said.
“As far as in my time, she’s the No. 1 (player),” Cary said of Lindsey. “She’s the most dominant offensive player that we’ve had, and to be quite honest she’s the most dominant defensive player that we’ve had.”
The stat-stuffer has been the cog to the Buckaroo’s prolific offensive machine and big reason why they’re on the cusp of winning the school’s third state softball championship in four years.
She’s 9-for-11 with four dingers in the Buckaroos three postseason victories.
Cary got a glimpse at what formed into the school’s top hitter even before she pulled on the Buckaroo uniform in the spring of 2011. That’s when Cary threw a bullpen for an eighth grader with great bat speed and advanced understanding of the game.
“I was thinking ‘This is going to be a pretty good hitter coming up’.” he remembers. “She came on even faster than we thought. We saw a lot of great things even before she got to high school.
“She certainly hasn’t wasted any of that talent, she’s put it to use and done great things with it.”
Surprisingly, Lindsey, who already owns two state POYs, was not dealt the Columbia River Conference equivalent of the award until two weeks ago, when she was honored as the 2015 league Player of the Year.
“There were good players in our league,” she said. “So when I heard I got it I was pretty happy about it.”
Most of those players were Buckaroo teammates. Pendleton was honored with nine first-team spots in the league balloting, including Lindsey’s top player honor, junior pitcher Kiersten Murphy’s Pitcher of the Year and Cary’s Coach of the Year award.
Catcher Mykal Weissenfluh, infielders Payton Hergert, Ellie Richards, outfielders Tiah Grass and Alexis Morrison, utility player Lauren Richards and designated hitter Shelby Spriet joined Murphy and Lindsey on the first-team.
League rival Hermiston received one first-team nod in utility player Mikayla Kopaca and three second-team spots in pitcher Taylor Betz, catcehr Jaime Hinkley and outfielder Kalene Wheeler.
The Bucks and Kingsmen open the second day of championship action in Corvallis with a 10 a.m. first pitch. The game will be broadcast over the air on Pendleton’s The Ticket 1240 KTIX, as well as through the OSAA’s online radio network. Live video will also be available for fee at NFHSnewtork.com.
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All-CRC Softball Team
Player of the Year — Darian Lindsey, sr., Pendleton
Pitcher of the Year — Kiersten Murphy, jr., Pendleton
Coach of the Year — Tim Cary, Pendleton
First team
Pitchers
Kiertsen Murphy, jr., Pendleton
Maddy Bradford, jr., The Dalles
Hannah McNerney, fr., Hood River Valley
Catchers
Mykal Weissenfluh, sr., Pendleton
Zoe Munn, fr., Hood River Valley
Infield
Sierra Watson, soph., The Dalles
Hannah Harris, jr., The Dalles
Payton Hergert, soph., Pendleton
Ellie Richards, jr., Pendleton
Darian Lindsey, sr., Pendleton
Outfield
Ruthie Ford, jr., The Dalles
Jojo Karr, sr., Hood River Valley
Tiah Grass, sr., Pendleton
Alexis Morrison, sr., Pendleton
Utility/Designated Hitter
Mikayla Kopacz, jr., Hermiston
Lauren Richards, fr., Pendleton
Shelby Spriet, sr., Pendleton
Second Team
Pitchers
Taylor Betz, jr., Hermiston
Catchers
Jaime Hinkley, jr., Hermiston
Infield
Breanna Weekly, sr., Hood River Valley
Kelsey Wells, sr., Hood River Valley
Jessica DeHart, sr., Hood River Valley
Morgan Goslin, sr., The Dalles
Outfield
Kalene Wheeler, sr., Hermiston
Kailin Hoylman, soph., The Dalles
Jessie Karr, sr., Hood River Valley
Utility/Designated Hitter
Jenni Packer, sr., Hood River Valley
Jodi Thompson, fr., The Dalles
All-EOL
Echo junior outfielder Jamie Christopher snagged an Eastern Oregon League first-team spot in this season’s coaches’ voting.
Christopher, who hit .325 with 27 hits and two triples, was the lone Cougar on the first-team. Teammates Mackenize Gonzales (pitcher), Hannah McCarty (infielder) and Monique Montoya (Designated Player) were second-team choices.
Pitcher Skylar Wightman was Riverside’s lone second-team selection. Sylvia Gonzalez, Sadie Hasbel and Tyler Barker were all honorable mentions for the Pirates.
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All-EOL Softball Team
Player of the Year — Miah Slater, sr., Elgin
Coach of the Year — Kelly Johnson, Vale
First Team
Pitchers
Kelsey Hawley, jr., Vale
Karigan Wilhelm, sr., Elgin
Catcher
Babe Nash, sr., Grant Union
Infield
Hannah Mizuta, soph., Vale
Miah Slater, sr., Elgin
Amanda Trenkel, soph., Vale
Kristyn Young, sr., Enterprise
Kendra Cleaver, sr., Nyssa
Grace Reever, soph., Vale
Outfielder
Jamie Christopher, jr., Echo
Darcie Kanoho, sr., Elgin
Reagan Martinez, soph., Nyssa
Traci Tolman, sr., Vale
Utility/Designated Player
Lexi Mulvaney, soph., Vale
Sydney Stearns, sr., Grant Union
Corlynn Perry, sr., Vale
Second Team
Pitchers
Mackenzie Gonzales, soph., Echo
Skylar Wightman, fr., Riverside
Catchers
Madison Mitchell, soph., Nyssa
Whitney Wilber, jr., Elgin
Infielder
Kiara Cooper, jr,. Vale
Hannah McCarty, soph., Echo
Mariah Moulton, fr., Grant Union
Madison Plew, fr., Enterprise
Ravyn Wilson, soph., Grant Union
Outfielders
Christy Flippo, sr., Elgin
Mariah Meyerholz, sr., Grant Union
Kelsy Weber, jr, Vale
Utility/Designated Player
Katie Witherspoon, sr., Elgin
Monique Montoya, fr., Echo
Honorable Mention
Pitcher
Cody Jo Madden, fr., Grant Union
Infielders
Jordyn Anderson, sr., Elgin
Macey Frei, sr., Enterprise
Joye Garcilazo, sr., Umatilla
Sylvia Gonzalez, sr., Riverside
Sadie Hasbel, soph., Riverside
Sloane Jespersen, sr., Nyssa
Bailey Srofe, sr., Echo
Tyler Barker, sr., Riverside
Kenzie Blankenship, jr., Echo
Outfielders
Melissa Gonzalez, soph., Vale
Savanna Mularkey, Elgin
Utility
Kirstabel Calderon, sr., Nyssa