JOHN DAY The Lady Prospectors softball team started their 2013 season at 0-3 after consecutive losses to Pilot Rock, Heppner/Ione and Nyssa last week.

Against Pilot Rock, the Prospectors dug themselves a hole early with fielding errors, but 3-for-3 hitting from Stephanie Croghan, and 3-for-4 hitting from Morgan Immoos during a two-out rally brought them within two runs in the final inning.

The Prospectors combined for 15 hits for their first game of the year, including two hits apiece for Kennedy Nash and Megan Lane.

Although they started off their season with a loss, head coach DeAnna Nash remains confident in her team.

We had 15 hits in the first game of the year, and that is very encouraging, said Nash. Defensively we saw things that we can work on, and that will be our focus after each game to find what needs we have.

Last Friday, the Prospectors regrouped to face the defending state champs, the Heppner/Ione Mustangs. Without losing any players to graduation, the Mustangs came out strong. Their first at-bat hit a deep homer over the left field wall.

We faced one of the premier pitchers in Oregon, regardless of classification, said Nash. We were able to come away with some confidence.

The Mustang pitcher averaged 10 strikeouts per game last year, but was only able to get three against the Prospectors.

After a couple of tough innings, Prospector fielding errors, and stellar hitting from the Mustangs put them in a deep hole. After trailing 0-10, the Prospectors picked up the intensity in the middle innings with hits from Rayne Houser, Sydney Stearns, and Hailey McConnell, but ended up with a 0-20 loss to the defending state champs.

The second half of the doubleheader pitted the Prospectors against the Nyssa Bulldogs in a game that began much like the Pilot Rock game.

Seven errors in the first inning gave the Bulldogs a commanding lead, but a surge led by McConnell gave the Prospectors a 10-8 lead heading into the sixth inning.

McConnell had two hits, and was hit by a pitch to combine for three runs. Kennedy Nash had two hits, including a bases-loaded double, scoring twice. Mariah Meyerholz and Megan Lane each had singles.

The most encouraging things about our first three games is that we always battled, and we know we are headed for better days, said Nash. The girls believe in themselves and their teammates, and we are motivated to get better every day.

The Prospectors have two more nonleague games this week before their regular season begins. The Prospectors host Ridgeview at 2 p.m. Wednesday, and Heppner at 3 p.m. Thursday in John Day.