Playing one last tune-up game against competitive pitching before the 1B State Tournament in Yakima, the Mossyrock softball team defeated Darrington at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey, 22-12, in five innings Monday afternoon.
The Vikings, who have had several recent games forfeited or over with in three innings, wanted to get one last game in against a state-level opponent, and the Loggers, in a similar situation, agreed to meet in the middle for a tune-up game before the tournament starts on Friday.
“It was worth playing,” Vikings coach Keith Coleman said. “It’s better than practicing. It just gets us into the situations and game-type scenarios.”
The Vikings slapped 15 hits across the field, with Hailey Brooks going 3 for 4 with a triple at leadoff, Chesney Schultz going a perfect 3 for 3 with five RBIs, and Erin Cournyer launching her first two career home runs in the same game with four RBIs.
That hot start at the plate was more than enough to overcome a slower start in the field.
“We didn’t come ready to play right off the bat in the field,” Coleman said. “They were a little nervous. You gotta get over that, there ain’t no tomorrow when we get to Yakima.”
The Vikings committed five errors, but got them out of the way early and cruised to another win against a team seeded No. 8 by the WIAA committees for the state tournament.
Mossyrock, seeded No. 6, will take on No. 3 Sunnyside Christian in the first round of the tournament at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima at Noon Friday.
