2A Softball: Warriors Extend Season with Consolation Win over Hawks

Posted

Coming off of an almost successful rally in a 7-5 loss earlier in the afternoon to Woodland, the Rochester Warriors managed some clutch hitting — and a bit of luck — to keep their season alive.

Down 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rochester rallied back to claim a 6-5 victory over Hockinson in a loser-out District 4 2A Softball consolation quarterfinal at Fort Borst Park on Thursday.

"We lost the battle to Woodland and it was hard, but we came back ready to go," second baseman Joni Lancaster said. "We knew we had to lay down the line."

The beginning of things wasn't as encouraging. Leadoff hitter Sydnie Cole-Vogler, a player that would serve as a major thorn in the Warriors' side, singled and showed her speed with a stolen base on the very next pitch. Another single and two passed balls gifted the Hawks with a 2-run lead in the very first frame.

The Hawks tacked on one more via an RBI single from Kaylee Harteloo, scoring Cole-Vogler in the top of the third before the Warriors struck back. An RBI triple from Courtney Baird followed by an RBI double from Jessica Girardin cut the deficit to 3-2 after three stanzas.

"I think we started a little bit slow," Rochester coach Jared Lancaster said. "But, like we've done all year, people score on us, but luckily we scored more."

Cole-Vogler once again found home plate in the fifth, singling and cruising her way to third through two consecutive outs before sliding in on another passed ball. Cole-Vogler ended the night with a 3 for 4, 3 run performance.

Baird came up big again for the Warriors, knocking in twins Joni and Jaelin Lancaster with a double in the bottom half of the fifth inning to knot things, 4-4. Baird led the Rochester offense with 3 RBIs and a walk on 2 for 2 hitting.

"It was a do-or-die situation," Baird said. "We had to come out on top. We knew everyone was going to play their best so we could keep moving forward."

Joni Lancaster also went 2 for 2, reaching base on an error and a fielder's choice and adding 3 scored runs to the totals. Left-hander Madison Justice went 3 for 4 to account for the remainder of the Warriors' hits.

"I was just trying to keep the team positive even if things seemed to go bad," Joni Lancaster said. "It worked because we were hitting well."

The Warriors remained steadfast in their efforts at the plate, putting the ball in play in each and every at-bat.

The Hawks put themselves back on top in the sixth frame, capitalizing on an error to plate Adrianna Anderson and, after retiring the side in order, put the Warriors in a last chance situation in the final inning.

Justice and Joni Lancaster would rise to the occasion, both singling consecutively. Good fortune found the Warriors, as an overthrown relay to first base on the next at-bat scored Justice, tying things back up with Baird stepping up to the plate. The first pitch to Baird came whizzing past the catcher's glove and into the backstop, allowing Lancaster to slide in for the victory.



"It was just luck, really," Jared Lancaster said. "They scored a few times on passed balls and we were due to get something to go our way. Our big hitters came through and we just linked them together and got a break that we capitalized on."

With the victory, the Warriors advance to the consolation semifinals against R.A. Long. In order to seal a state berth, Rochester must win their next two matchups, both loser-out affairs.

"We're all really excited," Baird said. "R.A. Long is coming off of a loss and we're coming off a really exciting game, so I think we're going to play alright."

The Lumberjills suffered a 16-3 drubbing at the hands of W.F. West, leaving the momentum seemingly on the side of Rochester.

The optimism is of the Warriors is echoed by Jared Lancaster, as well.

"We could go with any team here," Lancaster said. "We just have got to have our hitters hit and keep our chins up. We've been banking this whole year on defense, but we've just got to stay positive."

The two squads face off today at 4 p.m. in Centralia.

Woodland 7, Rochester 5

Rochester battled back in the seventh, but Woodland was able to cut them off in a 7-5 loss in a District 4 2A Softball Tournament quarterfinal at Fort Borst Park on Thursday.

Bella Phelps started the Warriors off on a promising note, smacking a 2-run homer in the top of the second inning. Phelps led Rochester with a 2 for 2 performance with a walk, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs.

The Beavers began to chip away, however, adding a run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, with only 1 Warrior run coming in the fourth frame as a response.

With things all tied up at 3-3, the bats came alive for the Beavers in the bottom of the sixth, scoring 4 runs to gain the lead and a comfortable cushion. Woodland ended with 11 hits and took advantage of four Rochester errors.

The Warriors corralled four hits in the top of the final stanza to score 2 runs and mount an offensive rally, but were shut down in the midst of the action, leaving the tying runs stranded.

“It was a hard loss and they were a tough team,” Rochester coach Jared Lancaster said. “We played well but we just had a few more errors than they did.”