LAKEWOOD — The Lady Cougars completed their non-conference schedule with a pair of impressive wins on back-to-back days.

The high quality of play was evident in a 10-0, six-inning victory against Meridian March 19.

“Our girls have played pretty solid all around so far,” said Lakewood coach Steve Barker. “We’re making the basic plays and sometimes pulling out the spectacular.”

Providing a number of those spectacular plays were the Barrio sisters, Kahlee and Arianna.

The two put the Cougars ahead early when Arianna singled in the first inning, then stole second and was one of two runs driven in by Kahlee’s double. The following inning saw both sisters come around to score as Arianna singled and Kahlee walked to get on base.

Lakewood owned a 5-0 lead in the second inning. The Cougars scored in every inning but the third en route to a game shortened by the 10-run rule. Cheyenne Wilson had two hits and two runs scored.

Meanwhile, pitcher Amanda Bean took care of the Trojans offense, striking out six in as many innings and throwing her second complete game of the season.

“Amanda has just been battling out there in the cold conditions,” Barker said. “She’s struggled a little with her form and control, but that happens in the early part of the season — and I’m really surprised she’s been able to get two complete games so close together his early in the year.”

Bean got a little help in the third inning with runners on second and third with two outs. A Meridian hitter hit a Texas-leager over the third baseman’s head when Arianna, the shortstop, came out of nowhere to make a sliding catch and preserve the shutout.”

“Arianna is playing outstanding softball right now,” Barker said. “She has made another catch just like that in our last game.”

Perhaps a more impressive victory for the Cougars came in their first game of the year in an 11-6 win over reigning 2A state champion Burlington-Edison when freshman Mikayla Holmes went 4-for-4 and scored three runs for Lakewood, which managed to get the most out of three bunt singles and 10 hits to score 11 runs while forcing six errors.

“We just put the pressure on them and even really good teams can’t handle it all the time,” Barker sad.

Holmes has started her varsity career getting on base all eight times she’s gone to the plate in two games.