YAKIMA — The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley team sprung one upset but fell to an old foe Saturday, coming a game short of the trophy round thanks to an 8-7 loss to P2BL rival Ocosta in nine innings in a loser-out game at the 2B state tournament.
The Titans got to Ocosta ace Jessie Gilbert better than just about anybody had this season, led by Lauren Matlock, who hit two home runs and a double as part of a 5-for-5 outing. But the Wildcats stayed with them every step of the way, and plated two runs in the top of the seventh to tie things up.
After a scoreless eighth, Ocosta scored three in the top of the ninth. Matlock’s second homer cut the deficit to one and after Jillian Hodel reached on an error she got all the way to third, but PWV couldn’t bring her in to extend the game.
Payton Peterson added three hits — including a triple — and three RBIs.
PWV only got to the second game before a dazzling performance by Lauren Emery in the circle in its first, a 4-0 shutout of No. 2 Warden. Emery finished with five strikeouts and let her defense work behind her, not walking anybody and allowing just five hits.
That game saw the bottom of the PWV order show up, with Lorelei Smaciarz going 3 for 4 and CJ Sipp adding two hits and an RBI.
