After a gutsy run throughout the course of the season, the Lady Warriors' journey finally came to an end as Rochester fell to R.A. Long 14-4 in the District 4 2A Tournament consolation semifinals at Fort Borst Park on Friday.
The Lumberjills got ahead early, scoring 8 runs on as many hits in the first three innings with a great help from center fielder Hileigh Todd. Todd scored in all three stanzas, ending with a 4 for 4 performance with 4 runs and an RBI.
It wasn't until the fourth frame that Rochester began to mount an offense, leading to a 2-RBI single by Madison Justice with the bases loaded and two outs. Joni Lancaster followed up with a single to score another before the final out was collected.
Justice led the offense, going 4 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Rochester.
"We knew that we were going to have to give everything we had," Justice said. "I know that everyone gave 100 percent."
The Lady Warriors added another run in the very next inning with an RBI double from Jessica Girardin. The matchup took an unfortunate turn in the bottom of the fifth. A walk with the bases loaded forced an R.A. Long run in.
Lumberjill ace Madison Cathcart stepped up on the following at-bat and, with a 2-1 count, knocked a grand slam to right-center field, bringing the score to 13-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cathcart struck again for the final dagger on an RBI single to bring the ballgame to a close. Cathcart went 2 for 2 at the plate with two walks and 5 RBIs, striking out six in the circle in a complete game.
"We knew that she was a good athlete going in," Rochester coach Jared Lancaster said. "We also knew that we eventually were going to have to pitch to her. Hats off to her and that whole team. They were just a great ball team."
Just entering the playoffs was quite the chore in itself for the Warriors, whom had to win at least 75 percent of their games both in their own Evergreen 2A/1A League with most of their nonleague games against 2A opponents, as well as win a pigtail game with Centralia, the No. 4 team from the EvCo.
Through it all and with a 15-3-1 record, the Warriors made it to the tournament, something that hasn't been achieved by any other Warrior team in this inaugural year of the 2A/1A league.
"It was a challenge to get in, but it feels like we really earned it," Justice said. "In this 2A/1A league, it was definitely hard, but all of our work paid off."
While this year's season may be over, the future looks bright for the Rochester Warriors, whom are graduating just two seniors. Sierra Seymour and Jessica Glacken — who suffered an injury midway through the season — will bid the squad adieu.
For Seymour, the adventure has been a cherished ride that dates back to her childhood.
"We all grew up playing together," Seymour said. "You know everybody like the back of your hand and it's hard when it comes to an end like this. It's so much more fun when you're playing with a family."
As for the trials and tribulations of her final season, Seymour took a lot of pride in her team and the progress made.
"I thought it was awesome," Seymour reflected. "We beat teams that people didn't expect us to beat. We played better than we've ever played before."
Next season, the Warriors will have four seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores returning, with a slew of incoming freshmen to fill the squad out.
"Everyone is real excited," Lancaster said. "We've Hunter Hahn on the mound and she's only a freshman. She's just getting bigger and stronger like everyone else. We have some eighth graders coming up that will fill some spots. We'll come back next year and prepare the same way and hopefully things go our way."
For the Warriors, the sky is the limit.
Note: R.A. Long moved on to defeat Tumwater, 10-0 in six innings, for third place in the district tournament and a spot in the State 2A Softball Tournament.
