Ev, Wv Pull Through In Softball
What would a State AA softball tournament be without West Valley and East Valley?
The Eagles, who last weekend won their second straight district championship, have been to the tournament, which is in Tacoma this weekend, 9 of the past 11 years.
The Knights will be there for the third straight year.
Both survived early lethargy to qualify. Top-seeded WV rallied from behind to nudge Northeast A fourthseed Lakeside 4-2 in the first of three victories.
East Valley lost 10-5 to Riverside in its opener. Facing elimination each outing thereafter, the Knights then won three games in a row.
WV trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth when Annie Schell tied the score with a line-drive home run that just got by Lakeside’s leftfielder.
The team then parlayed mistakes into two more runs during this gathering of Eagles.
“If we lost I was thinking we didn’t deserve to go to state,” said Coach Steve Kent, who mistakenly anticipated a sure victory. “Annie saved our bacon.”
Things got easier thereafter with the team blanking Newport 4-0 and beating Hanford 9-2 in the title game.
“We didn’t hit the ball worth a darn against Newport either,” said Kent.
But pitcher Darci Sohns was overpowering and Kate Waldron went 3 for 3, tripling in a run and scoring two others.
In the title game Schell hit a tworun double to give the Eagles a 3-0 first-inning lead. Carie Koker hit a double and home run.
Sohns allowed five hits, walked two and struck out 24 batters in 16 innings of work.
East Valley scored early and often after the slow start, beating Kettle Falls 14-2 on only three hits with a sixrun first inning, Newport 8-3 with a four-run first and avenging its firstgame loss 10-3 over Riverside.
“I have a lot of confidence in the kids,” said coach Bill Clift of his team’s resiliency. “They’re probably the best I’ve coached for hanging in.”
Freshman Tricia Stookey, who led the team in doubles this year, had seven hits, veteran Barb Cossette, who hit .340, added five and .375 hitter Wendy Stredwick had two home runs in the Riverside win. Backup pitcher Kim Stern pitched the three wins.
“I’ve said all along we had more depth than in the past and four pitchers who could pitch and it paid off at the end,” said Clift.
Kent credited experience and plenty of playing time for WV’s league and district championships. Peggy Palmer batted .568 and Koker .535 to lead the offense. Sohns, just a sophomore, continued to dominate.
More track qualifiers
Freeman High athletes have jumped and vaulted their way to state. Jeremy Ashmoore is a twotime pole vault state qualifier, joined by teammate Ryan Bates.
Triple jumper Marc Reed will also be in the State A event in Yakima.
Competing in the State B meet will be Valley Christian School runner Phil Spuler in the 1,600 and 3,200, Travis Harken in the high jump and Matt Wright in the long jump. Valley Christian girls qualifiers include discus and javelin thrower Danielle Swift, hurdler Carmen Evans and the quick Panther 400 and 1,600 meter relay teams.