Stomping Out the Birds - Sawyer Coleman and Charles Johns

    Coming off a big win against Kamiakin on Tuesday night, the lady Bombers hoped to run with their momentum. The Bombers would extend their win streak to seven games and beat the Hanford Falcons 3-1 on Thursday evening. The Richland Bombers are now 7-1 on the season. 

The Lady Bombers celebrate after their 3-1 win over HHS. Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    Anticipation was high as the Bombers are set to have yet another strong year. Coming off a big win on Tuesday, some wondered if they could stay focused and play to their level. When asked about this, Coach Almquist said, "we didn't practice yesterday because I knew it would be tough. It was more about showing up and getting the job done". Good coaching has been a key to the team's success this year.

    Walking in from the parking lot, you could hear the noise from ecstatic fans and parents. It seemed as if everyone knew it would be a tune-up game to get confidence high and pat some stats. Swaggering through warmups, there was clearly no lack of poise. As the team stood for the national anthem, a green jersey with the number nine was held up, a sign of respect for Senior quarterback Cole Mullens whose season was cut short due to a cancer diagnosis. Cole is fighting a battle far greater than high school athletics and despite the rivalry, both teams united to show support. It goes to show how beautiful sports can be. 

The Bombers are having a great season and a fun one. 

    The starters took their positions and went through their routines. Coach Almquist stood tall with the utmost certainty in his team. With a great atmosphere, it was destined to be another display of dominance from the Lady Bombers. 

    The whistle sounded and Sorrel Stratford wasted no time coming into the game hot, quickly scoring a goal just three minutes into the match. However, the Bomber's offense quickly went cold for the remainder of the first half. Not having key players Bella Bunage (torn quad, bruised femur), and Kelsey Fulton (ankle) in the starting lineup showed during the offensive campaign. From the last game against Kamiakin, there have been five changes in the lineup. When asked about the changes in the lineup Senior captain Sorrel Stratford said, "everyone on this team can play." After Sorrels' goal, the first half went grey. There was not a whole lot of action as players would progress back and forth on the field but make no substantial offensive or defensive plays. 

    Not being able to finish seemed to be the Lady Bomber's biggest enemy all night, with many opportunities extinguished by lack of cohesion. Although it was a dull game in the scorebooks, the game's real excitement was with the defenders. Throughout the match, the defensive stars, senior Riley Heidegger, senior captain Savannah Crithfield, and Senior Kendal Smith communicated and kept the team on the same page. Making sure everyone was in the right spot and shutting down the Falcon offense for the entirety of the first half. You could hear from the stands the leadership displayed by the upperclassmen on the field. 

Kendal Smith handled the Falcons with ease Thursday night.

    The second half was almost picturesque as the first, with Tiffany Turner scoring four minutes in, making it 2-0 for the Bombers. Unlike the first half, the Bombers rolled with momentum. Sorrel Stratford would score her second goal in the 63rd minute. The Bombers looked unstoppable, and the 3-0 lead took the breath right out of the Falcons. Seeming to have the game in the bag, Hanford showed a little life, scoring in the 65th minute. This was breathtaking as the Bombers haven't allowed a single goal in regulation all season. Nonetheless, the Bomber's defense was lights out after only allowing the ball to get deep a handful of times. 

    The girls played a hard-nosed match and were able to secure a win. Injuries have been plaguing the team recently, and the Bombers are looking to stay healthy for the remainder of the season. When asked about this, Coach said, "It's kinda what happens when you play 2-3 games a week. That's why you have a roster of 20 plus". With a large emphasis on keeping it moving, the coach plans on using his depth to win games. After seeing what the team can do with missing pieces, it'll be exciting to watch them perform at full strength later in the season. 

    With the Walla Walla Blue Devils on the horizon (3-5), it's hard to imagine the Bombers won't keep their foot on the gas pedal. Rising back to number one in the MCC, the future is looking promising. There is little doubt the Lady Bomber will add to their already prominent legacy at Richland High. 

Emily Rodgers (16) and Kendal Smith cheer on Sorrel Stratford on her second goal of the night. Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook)