Ferris Keeps Promise To Qualify For State Softball Saxons Among Four Gsl Teams To Earn Berths

When they were freshmen, Ferris softball players presented their coach with a T-shirt that read, “Going to State in ‘98.”

Then Laurie Henry left for a year to coach volleyball and assist softball at Central Valley High School.

Two years after her return to teach at Ferris and coach the Saxon varsity, the bold prophecy came true.

It was a big leap from Henry’s initial goal of qualifying for the district playoffs, which the Saxons did last year.

“Honestly, my goal this year was to go to the next step,” said Henry. “Making regionals was the best gift. State is a bonus.”

During unprecedented regional tournament success, all four GSL entrants to last weekend’s raindelayed tournament, including University, Shadle Park and Mead, qualified for Friday’s 4A tournament in Vancouver.

Ferris did so with a 6-1 tournament-opening victory over Big Nine district champion Wenatchee and a 2-0 triumph over Pasco.

Four seniors remain from those who played for Henry as freshmen.

Kylee Curry pitched and helped bat the team to state.

“She pitched every inning of every game,” said Henry, “and is fundamentally sound offensively, as well as defensively.”

Kim Domonouski played right field and walked four times during regionals, scoring twice in the opening win over Wenatchee.

Jenny Lytle, a two-time all-GSL player and .350 hitter this year, had three hits in the playoffs, including a huge triple and run in the sixth-inning of the team’s state-qualifying victory.

The fourth player from the 1995 freshman team is reserve Amanda Ovlen. Complementing them were three juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen, including sisters Justine and Maria Ruddell at catcher and shortstop respectively.

Justine, a junior, had three hits in the tournament. Two of them, including a triple, came in the opener in which she scored three times. Maria, a freshman, was the team hitting leader during the regular season.

“I’m in my 11th year of coaching and this is the closest group I’ve ever worked with,” said Henry. “The chemistry was there from the first practice on.”

Rain postponed Friday’s first round of the eight-team double-elimination tournament. As a result, teams played 11 games in a 10-hour period, which left little time for rest.

Ferris opened at noon against Wenatchee and took a 2-0 lead when sophomore leadoff hitter Coleen Melody slapped a second-inning two-run single.

Melody would later suffer a self-inflicted injury when struck in the mouth by a foul ball.

It required 12 stitches outside and inside her mouth, but she returned to play the remaining two games, scoring a run on Curry’s triple during Ferris’s 4-1 semifinal loss to regional champion University.

“This was really big for Ferris,” Melody said, still sporting the long white milk-mustache of athletic tape covering her injury. “I’m proud. We worked hard.”

She wasn’t the only player who toughed out adversity. Sophomore Lindsay Tomlin moved from the outfield to first base because of a regular season knee injury.

She had two hits against Pasco, driving in Curry with the game’s initial run as the seniors realized their goal.

Henry, by the way, still has her T-shirt.

Saxons on a roll

Softball is not the only success story for Ferris.

For the second straight year, Ferris’s soccer team has reached the state semifinals with essentially the same team that placed second a year ago.

After losing its regular season finale, the team has won five playoff matches in succession to move opposite Curtis, Friday at 7 p.m. in Vancouver.

Included were three district wins and, most recently, 2-1 and 2-0 state triumphs over Eisenhower and Pasco.

The Saxons this year have qualified an abundance of teams to state. Volleyball won one team and two golf teams were working on others earlier this week.

Ferris’s girls soccer team, both basketball teams and baseball all competed in post-season along with individuals practically everywhere else, including Emily Hawkins’ state cross country championship.

This weekend completes the stunning year.

Tennis players advance

Three tennis players will compete in this weekend’s State 4A tennis tournament in Vancouver.

Ferris’s Megan McKitterick gained the finals of regionals before losing in three sets to Kamiakin’s Katherine Martin.

Lewis and Clark boys doubles players, Karl and Peter Johnson, claimed the fourth and last spot in the tournament.

Hangman handicap tourney champ

A champion is determined following three rounds of the annual Hangman Valley Ladies 18-Hole Golf Club Handicap Tournament.

Fran Nord won the title with a three-round net total of 215.

Flight A winner was Noreen Sale at 229, a stroke ahead of Marlene Thies.

In B flight, Margaret Sims won with 223. Sue Henley won over Kathy Thiesen after the pair tied in C flight with 228. D flight went to Susan Crosby with 235.

During last week’s outing, Thies netted 71. Nord and Donna Ogilvie shot 95 low gross, and Sims netted 32 in B.

C flight went to Thiesen with a net 76 and D to Crosby with net 77.