Lindsey leaving her mark

Published 6:32 pm Thursday, June 4, 2015

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.

———

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.

————

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

Marketplace