Lake Oswego senior Ava Beach has struck out 51 and allowed eight hits in 23 innings this season. (Photo by Miles Vance)

Two years ago, Lake Oswego's young softball team went through the trials and tribulations of a 3-23 season.

Now, those growing pains are starting to reap dividends for the Lakers, who have outscored opponents 80-7 in a 7-0 start that has vaulted them to No. 3 in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll.

Lake Oswego believed it was on the cusp of a breakthrough last season, when it improved to 11-16 and lost in the first round of the 6A playoffs.

“If we just fixed a few things here and there, instead of being 28th in the state, we would've been like 12th in the state,” third-year coach Rob Cavagnaro said. “It was a few key mistakes that cost us. We had the ability to fix those.

“The returning seniors saw that. They came into the season saying, 'Let's work on the little details.” If we do that, I think they feel like they can hang with anybody in the state.”

It helps that the Lakers are getting outstanding pitching from senior Ava Beach, their second-year ace. In 23 innings, she has allowed eight hits, struck out 51, walked 12 and has a 0.91 ERA.

“She put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Cavagnaro said of Beach, who missed her sophomore year with a shoulder injury. “I think she saw what we all saw. And she came into the season healthy.”

Beach got the win March 19 in a 5-3 home victory over No. 2 Sherwood, the reigning 6A champion. She pitched a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts and three walks against the Bowmen, who were missing several of their top players.

Lake Oswego also posted an 11-4 win at 5A No. 5 North Eugene on March 23. The Lakers rapped 17 hits in that game, getting four from their leadoff hitter, sophomore center fielder Avery Latta.

Lake Oswego is batting .463 as a team, led by sophomore left fielder Karina Swartz (.636). Other top hitters include Latta (.538), junior shortstop Avery Cavagnaro (.500, one home run, 16 RBIs), senior second baseman Kaiya Carnegie (.565, one home run, eight RBIs, 13 runs), junior third baseman Sydney Perlewitz (.478, eight RBIs) and sophomore catcher Sloane Morris (.353, one home run, nine RBIs).

“There's a of confidence in the box,” Rob Cavagnaro said. “The girls are seeing the ball well. It's fun seeing them be successful. It's a pretty tough ask for a team to have to pitch through our top six or seven, three or four times in a game, and not get dinged up.”

The hitters have improved in reading the defense, according to the coach.

“That's why Avery has so many RBIs, because she places the ball,” Cavagnaro said. “If we get two on, we've got a four-five-six that can all convert. It pushes a lot of runs across.”

The defense has been steady. Morris is an anchor as a second-year starter behind the plate, Perlewitz has a strong arm at third base, Cavagnaro has wide range at shortstop and Latta is confidently chasing down fly balls in center field.

The Lakers know that big challenges await inside the Three Rivers League, where they haven't won a title since 2006, their last 20-win season. They went 4-11 in league play last year.

“The girls are ready for the challenge,” Rob Cavagnaro said. “They've got goals specific around the TRL. They would be disappointed if they weren't in the top two.”

Scappoose knocks off No. 1 The Dalles

Co-No. 2 Scappoose rode the bat of junior shortstop Sophia Bloyd and the arm of senior pitcher Saige Casey to a 6-0 win at No. 1 The Dalles in a 4A nonleague showdown Tuesday.

Bloyd went 2 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs and Casey tossed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and five walks as the Indians (6-0) dealt the Riverhawks (8-1) their first loss.

For the season, Bloyd is batting .727 with two doubles, three triples, three home runs and 12 RBIs. In 32 innings, Casey has allowed 19 hits, struck out 50, walked 12 and has a 0.88 ERA.

Astoria rebounds

Reigning 4A champion Astoria, co-No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, bounced back from a 5-4 loss at No. 1 The Dalles on March 27 with two impressive wins.

The Fish came back later March 27 for a 9-8 win over 3A No. 1 Scio, the reigning state champion. On Tuesday, they won 3-0 at home over 3A No. 6 Banks.

Astoria led Scio 5-0 after two innings and 8-3 after four innings and held on to hand the Loggers their first defeat. Junior Hailey Svensen went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and junior Finley Cameron went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs in the win.

Junior Taryen Wray showed the way against Banks, throwing a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Cameron went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Wray and junior Lyla Carlson drove in runs.