RICHLAND — Twenty-five years in the making.
For the first time since the 2000 season, Rochester has qualified for a state softball semifinal matchup after the team defeated Royal 3-1 in the WIAA’s 2025 1A State Softball Tournament quarterfinals matchup on Friday, May 23, in Richland.
Royal, the defending 1A state softball champions, strung together a late comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh inning while trailing 3-0. After a Knights runner scored from second base on a throwing error to cut the contest to 3-1, senior pitcher Layna Demers slammed the door and secured Rochester’s spot in the top four.
“There are no words. I’m at a loss of words for sure,” head coach Joni Guerrero told the Chronicle following the upset win on Saturday, May 23. “Coming in as the underdog against the defending state champions, and for us to play a game like that and stay in it and compete with them, was huge for us. It was a big confidence booster. This team is very, very talented. Once they all believe that, big things can happen.”
Following the contest, Guerrero was quick to acknowledge the dominant near-shutout performance from the senior, describing Demers' quarterfinals performance as “phenomenal.” Any time the senior starter is on the mound for Rochester, Guerrero knows her team has a legitimate chance to win.
“Phenomenal. Any time Layna (Demers) is on the mound and throwing like that, we can beat anybody in the entire state,” she said. “She’s a fighter. She wants to win so bad. She’s a competitor. She doesn’t care if she’s getting calls or not. She’s still going to trust her pitch. She’s amazing. I am glad she’s on my team.”
As a result of the upset victory over Royal, Rochester will play Cedar Park Christian at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, at the Columbia Playfield in Richland. The path to the 1A state championship game has not been easy for Rochester, and it won’t get any easier tomorrow as the Eagles are a returning semi-finalist team from the 2024 season.
Though Guerrero and the Warriors haven’t played Cedar Park Christian this season, the coach said the team saw the Eagles play earlier in the season at a tournament in Walla Walla.
“We’ll get to work tonight in the hotel. We’ll do a little scouting, see what we can find on them, and have the same game plan as we did today,” Guerrero said. “Same game plan tomorrow. Go in, have a game plan at the plate, have a game plan on defense. Trust your pitcher, trust each other, and just play it on the line. Nothing to lose here. Let 'em play. Go get it.”
