Pe Ell-Willapa Valley and Onalaska knocked off two higher-seeded opponents on Sunday in the rain-delayed consolation round of the District 4 2B Softball Tournament to seal the final two state tournament berths.
The Titans beat Napavine in one semifinal, while Onalaska (12-12) won a tight 1-0 game with Morton-White Pass in the other.
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley then beat the Loggers, 11-10, in the third-place/state seeding game.
“It’s just nice that we get to be able to go over there (to Yakima) and take advantage of our opportunities,” Logger coach Ken Ulery said, adding that his team has lost to Morton-White Pass in the district tournament in each of the last three years. “The girls worked hard for it. We have to represent as good as those two teams (MWP and Napavine) I’m sure would have represented.”
The Titans (18-6) finished tied for fifth in last year’s state tournament, losing to Morton-White Pass in the consolation semifinals.
“The kids are playing well,” PWV coach Ken Olson said. “Dakota (Brooks) is throwing well, and we’re scoring. We’re getting eight to 12 hits a game, and you can win a lot of games that way. We look forward to the opportunity.”
Pe Ell-WV 11, Onalaska 10
The Loggers jumped out to a 10-0 lead after three innings, but the Titans came storming back for the win in what amounted to a seeding game for the State 2B tournament.
The Loggers took the opportunity to play plenty of substitutes, according to Onalaska coach Ken Ulery.
“It was a fun game for the girls,” Ulery said. “We wanted everybody to get the opportunity to play and they did. It was kind of a relief for us, but we’re back at practice and ready to go.”
Alicia Vint went 3 for 5 and drove in three runs for Onalaska, Nicolle Duryea went 2 for 2, and Heather Pannkuk — normally a flex player — stepped to the pate and had a pair of singles with two RBIs.
Dakota Brooks hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning for PWV, while Abby Hodel went 2 for 4. Emily Sliva knocked a two-run pinch-hit double, and Sam Woodward and Railey Smith each hit RBI doubles.
Dusty Glenn, Amy Wright and Colee Masciola all pitched for Onalaska. Kamryn Adkins pitched the first two innings for PWV, with Dakota Brooks closing it out and recording the win.
Onalaska 1, Morton-White Pass 0
Onalaska’s Gabby Wright dueled with Morton-White Pass’ Christine Robbins for seven innings, with only Alicia Vint’s sixth-inning solo home run budging the scoreboard in what clocked in at a 55-minute contest.
“Both girls were really on their game,” Ulery said. “Both Christine and Gabby threw as well as I’ve seen them throw. We just got lucky and were able to take advantage of one missed pitch.”
Vint added a double, and Robbins, Kylie Allen and Taylor Nilius all had hits for MWP.
Both teams managed three hits, with Robbins striking out seven and Wright fanning five.
“The energy, attitude and effort were spot on,” Ulery said. “In the four years I’ve coached it’s one of the better games. I’m very proud of them.”
Morton-White Pass finished the season with a 16-8 record. It was the final game for MWP seniors Allen, Robbins, Sharon Hazen, Kerrie Harper and Tatym Smathers.
Pe Ell-WV 10, Napavine 6
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley stayed just ahead of Napavine for a 10-6 win in the district consolation semifinals to seal a spot in the State 2B tournament.
Dakota Brooks went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs. Grace Hodel went 2 for 3, while sister Abbi Hodel went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs. Eight of the nine players in the lineup had a hit for the Titans.
Erika Potter and Hailey Dickinson each hit three-run homers to account for Napavine’s scoring.
“It was a great way to top off our season before state, and against a good opponent,” PWV coach Ken Olson said. “It could have went either way, really.”
Both pitchers — Brooks for PWV and Abbi Music for Napavine — threw well, Olson added.
Napavine finished the season with a 16-7 record. It was the final game for Tiger seniors Erika Potter, Hailey Dickinson and Madison Cooley.
