District 8 4A softball: University plays complete game to defeat CV for title

University flashed its bunting and baserunning in the first inning, its power in the fourth and sixth, and its pitching and defense the entire way.

The components added up to a District 8 4A softball title for the Titans, who knocked off main rival Central Valley 11-1 in six innings Friday at Whitworth University.

“We played great defense,” Titans coach Jon Schuh said. “Alex (Douglas) pitched really well. And we had clutch hits. We talked a little bit about it the other day, about rising to the occasion and owning the stage. And I think we did that today.”

U-Hi (18-4) will play the Mid-Columbia Conference’s No. 1 team at noon May 23 in Richland for a berth to state. CV (12-10) will meet the MCC’s No. 2 at the same time, needing a win to advance to a 2 p.m. winner-to-state game.

Mead (15-7) could steal the MCC’s second berth to become CV’s rival at Richland. The Panthers will travel to the MCC’s No. 2 at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Douglas surrendered a RBI double to CV senior Shayla Vegas in the first inning before settling in for shutout ball the rest of the way.

“I’m a ground-ball pitcher, so my team behind me knows they’re going to get a lot of ground balls,” Douglas said. “If I do strike out somebody, it’s like, ‘Oh, hurrah.’ I don’t do that very often.”

The Titans bunted and ran their way to three first-inning runs, aided by three Bears infield errors.

U-Hi unveiled its power game in the fourth, as Gracee Dwyer, Brooklynn Tacke and Courtney Awbery had consecutive doubles and scored.

“I think it’s important to have both of those aspects with us, being able to bunt and hit, and I think we do that well,” said Tacke, whose RBI on a squeeze bunt in the first gave U-Hi a 3-0 edge.

The Titans played errorless ball and turned a nifty, inning-ending 1-6-3 double play on Vegas’ sharp comebacker in the fifth.

The Titans capped the game early with five consecutive hits, including doubles by Kailey Sanford and Alex Surby.

“We have some girls who have a little bit of pop, too, so it was nice that they got to showcase that,” Schuh said.

Mead 12, Lewis and Clark 2 (6): Kylie Bremner struck out nine and allowed just one single after the first inning as the Panthers eliminated the Tigers (7-16).

Mead, trailing 2-1 with two outs in the fourth, broke through with five runs after an infield error extended the inning. Mead had 11 hits over the final three innings.

“I try my best to hit my spots,” said Bremner, a four-year varsity player. “I don’t think I really have a main pitch. … I have confidence in my team to get the bats going.”

Leadoff batter Sydney Hellman, who ended the game early with a two-run double, finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Shannon Payne went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs, and Ashley Hammond was 2 for 2 with two runs.

“When we hit, it becomes an epidemic and then the rest of the girls follow,” Mead coach Joel Shawen said. “We’ve been capitalizing on other teams’ errors all year long.”

Tigers seniors Anna Budke and Naomi Harris had RBI singles in the first.