College Softball: LCC sweeps on opening day of NWAC Tournament

Barbee Says – Red Devils impress in crowded field at Delta Park

LCC Brooklyn Loose and Lexi Grumbois (23) execute a flying chest bump after defeating Clark College 13-0 in the opening round of the NWAC Tournament, Thursday, May 15, at Delta Park in Portland. The Red Devils went on to defeat Edmonds, 8-0, in five innings, and are set to return to action at noon on Friday. / Photo courtesy of LCC Atletics

Sam Barbee for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

NWAC Softball

PORTLAND — It wasn’t an ideal day for it.

It was kinda cold. The rain was incessant but never, like, bad. It was the kind of rain that makes you really debate sitting on the aluminum bleachers. It’s not that bad, you tell yourself, as you ease onto the bench and yeah that was a mistake shouldn’t have done that.

But can it ever be that bad when you’re watching games with high stakes?

Is it ever bad when you’re watching the local powerhouse steamroll the best another college has to offer? Is it ever bad when you’re watching another favorite lose somehow, then respond with a thrashing?

Is it ever bad when the energy and joy and pain and nerves are all so palpable that the volunteer in the concession stand is riding the waves, too?

The NWAC Softball Championships have begun. I was there on Day 1 in Portland on Thursday to see what I could see. Of course, Lower Columbia took care of business once again, improving its record on the season to 45-0 with a pair of shutout wins over Clark and Edmonds, but there’s so much more to take in at Delta Park.

LCC pitcher Cerenity Fake delivers an offering to the plate during.a 13-0 win over Clark in the opening round of the NWAC Tournament, Thursday, May 15, at Delta Park in Portland. / Photo courtesy of LCC Athletics

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