Titans seek State return

Ashley Fargher has a unique perspective on the 4A eastern regional softball tournament.

Last year, the sophomore started at third base for Kamiakin of the Big Nine Conference. This year, she’ll catch for the Greater Spokane League’s top seed, the University Titans.

So Ashley, which league is better?

“The GSL is more competitive, top to bottom,” she said after helping the Titans win the District 8 tournament title at Whitworth College on Tuesday. “Richland is always really good, but it just goes down from there.”

The eight-team regional, which starts Friday at 6 p.m. at the Columbia Playfields in Richland, will produce four teams to represent Eastern Washington in the state tournament the following weekend.

To get to State in Tacoma, a team must win twice before losing twice.

With their district title, the Titans avoided having to play undefeated Richland in their first two games.

“I’m happy to have the No. 1 seed just because Richland and Shadle are on the other side of the bracket,” U-Hi coach Jon Schuh said. “But the best part of district is we got to play two tight games. That’s the type of game you typically get in region and state.

“Still, so many things can happen, you never know who will move on.”

For the past nine years, U-Hi has been one of those teams.The districts weren’t a wonderful experience for the Highlanders, though the 1-0 title-game loss to U-Hi was a learning experience, according to coach George Lynn.

“It was a wake-up call, that’s for sure,” he said. “It was the perfect opportunity for us to see something like that. I’m glad it happened now instead of later.”

The loss means the Bombers could face Shadle in the second round if both teams get by first-round opponents.

The 3A regional will be Saturday at the same facility, and North Central enters as the GSL’s top seed. The seed earned the Indians a bye in the first round of the tournament, which will send two teams to state.

North Central freshman pitcher Kelsie Vallies limited East Valley to two runs despite five Indians’ errors in the District 8 game that determined the GSL’s top seed.

The Indians have pounded the ball all year, paced by catcher Brianna Scott (.415 league average) and shortstop Jamilyn Schibel (.393, 25 RBIs).