Jeff Smith, The Oregonian, April 30, 2013 7:38 p.m.

Liberty senior first baseman Sierra LaMotte connects for a single in the Falcons' game against St. Helens on Friday. - (Jeff Smith/The Oregonian)

In three games last week, the Liberty softball team outscored two opponents 29-1 in consecutive victories and then lost 4-0.

Guess which game Falcons coach Nolan Meeuwsen enjoyed the most?

"I'd rather play in 4-0 games on either end of it than play in a 17-0 game," Meeuwsen said. "The 17-0 games dont do much for us. But this was a well-played game on both sides."

Meeuwsen was speaking after the Falcons 4-0 loss to St. Helens on Friday in a Northwest Oregon Conference softball game at Liberty High School.

Earlier in the week, Liberty (11-9, 5-4 NWOC) rolled eighth-place Milwaukie 17-0 in five innings and beat seventh-place Parkrose 12-1. But Meeuwsen said his team improved more by experiencing a competitive game Friday against the second-place Lions (14-4, 7-2).

Liberty and St. Helens were tied 0-0 after four crisp innings before the Lions got a run in the fifth to take the lead.

It was a back-and-forth battle, Meeuwsen said. We had runners in scoring position several times tonight and couldnt get the right hit at the right time. We just couldnt capitalize when we needed to.

But I do think this game is going to help us become a better team for the next five games in league and in the play-in game and then in the playoffs.

Link:

Softball: Liberty ready to embrace 'unsung' role as playoffs near