Adna batting helmets lineup before the 2B state softball championship game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday
Adna's Kendra Stajduhar (far left), Shanay Dotson (middle) and Lili Glover (far right) pump up teammates in a circle before the 2B state softball championship game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Darian Humphrey takes a cut during the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Shanay Dotson flips the ball to second base during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Samantha Rolfe winds up for a pitch during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Josey Sandrini hesitates to throw to first base as Toutle Lake's Britzy Hockett tries to out run the throw during the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna catcher Lili Glover waits to catch the throw to home plate as Toutle Lake's Britzy Hockett tries to beat the throw to home during the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Fans move out of the way after Adna's Devanie Kleemeyer crashes into the outfield fence during the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Devanie Kleemeyer celebrates before touching home plate as she celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Tabitha Dowell slides into home plate while trying to avoid the tag of Toutle Lake catcher Samantha Woodley during the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday. Dowell was called out on the play.
Adna's Devanie Kleemeyer leaps to catch a fly ball during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Josey Sandrini connects with a pitch during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Jenikka Poppe celebrates with coach Jessika Jo Sandrini after Poppe scored a run during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Photos from the Adna vs. Toutle Lake 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Toutle Lake holds up the Golden Glove trophy after defeating Adna 9-8 in the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Lili Glover tosses her glove in disappointment as Toutle Lake celebrates after scoring the winning run for a 9-8 victory in the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Lili Glover walks towards the Adna dugout as Toutle Lake celebrates after scoring the winning run in a 9-8 victory over Adna in the 2B State Softball Championship Game at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
Adna's Josey Sandrini (far right) and Lili Glover (middle) are fired up after scoring runs during the 2B State Softball Championship Game against Toutle Lake at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima on Saturday.
YAKIMA — After rallying from seven runs down, Adna thought they had it. But the Pirates’ hopes of repeating as 2B state champions fell short here Saturday, with a 9-8 loss to Toutle Lake in the title game on a bottom-of-the-seventh run by the Ducks’ Ashlyn McDaniel.
Adna came back from a 7-0 deficit after three innings to level the game at 8-8 going into the seventh, but Toutle Lake ended it with a run driven in by Shelby Levang.
The Pirates scored three in the fourth and five in the sixth, giving up just one run during that span. With the Toutle Lake lead erased, Adna coach Mike Raschke felt the win was within his team’s grasp.
“I really thought when we tied it up 8-8, seeing them down and the momentum that we had, I knew we we’re going to get it,” Raschke said.
The Pirates began their comeback with a home run by Devanie Kleemeyer in the top of the fourth. Josey Sandrini and Sam Rolfe also scored for Adna to make it 7-3 midway through the inning.
Adna trailed 8-3 going into the sixth, but Lili Glover and Shanay Dotson drove in two runs apiece as part of the Pirates’ five-run inning to knot the score.
The game was a rematch of the 2B District 4 final on May 21, won by Toutle Lake, 11-10.
Toutle Lake scored six runs in the third. Sam Woodley and Mikayla Deffenbaugh drove in runs for the Ducks, followed by a solo homer from Ashlynn Dean. The next four Toutle Lake batters also registered hits, including an RBI double by Kelsey Lee.
“What can I say about my girls? They didn’t give up,” Adna coach Mike Raschke said. “These girls fought back. Toutle Lake’s a great team, you can’t take anything away from them. But we didn’t figure on giving them a seven, eight run lead.”
Britzy Hockett was 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Ducks.
“We couldn’t keep her off the base today and that was one of our goals,” Raschke said.
Woodley was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI for Toutle, while Dean was 2 for 4. The Ducks and Pirates each had 16 hits.
Toutle Lake made three pitching changes during the game, with Lee, Rae Curry and Dean all taking the circle.
In the top of the seventh, a hit by Adna’s Kendra Stajduhar to deep center right field nearly gave the Pirates the lead, but Hockett — the Ducks’ center fielder — came up with the catch to preserve the tie.
“She made a fantastic catch,” Raschke said. “We should’ve scored two runs right there. But those are all if’s. I’m proud of these girls.”
Rolfe, who started the game at pitcher for the Pirates, was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Tabitha Dowell also had three hits on four at-bats for Adna.
Left fielder Kendra Stajduhar was 2 for 5 with a sixth-inning RBI during the Pirate’s comeback attempt.
“We didn’t come out hot in the beginning like we have in the last couple games and it hurt us, Stajduhar said. “If we would’ve played like we could’ve all the way through we would’ve got it.”
Stajduhar is one of six Adna seniors. The Pirates won last year’s State Championship with a 13-3 win over Napavine.
“I had fun. I had a great last season. It’s hard to go out with a loss, but I’m glad to have ended it with these girls.”
Added Raschke: “Second’s not what we wanted. The glove is what we wanted. But I hope these girls hold their heads high. They had a great crowd here and gave them a game to remember.”
Pirates Rout Titans in Semis
By The Chronicle
YAKIMA — Adna cruised to the 2B state title game with a 15-1 mercy rule-shortened win over Pe Ell-Willapa Valley in semifinal action here Saturday.
Lead-off batter Kendra Stajduhar went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Pirates, who took an 11-0 lead after two innings, with four runs in the opening frame and seven in the second.
Devanie Kleemeyer scored three of Adna’s runs, adding two hits and a walk in three at-bats. Josey Sandrini was 2 for 3 with a walk and three RBIs.
The Pirates added two runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Samantha Rolfe pitched a complete game for Adna. For PWV, Dakota Brooks and Kamryn Adkins both took the circle.
PWV shortstop Sid Pollard was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
The Titans had advanced to the state semifinal, after tying for third in the Central 2B League during the regular season, with wins on Friday over Dayton and Warden.
