ACH puts an end to Colton’s streak

YAKIMA – After five years of state tournament frustration, Almira/Coulee-Hartline’s Warriors finally found a way to derail Colton’s softball juggernaut.

Behind stellar pitching and timely hitting from senior pitcher Dani Hayes, the Warriors knocked off the six-time defending champion Wildcats 9-4 at Kiwanis Park on Friday in the State 1B tournament. ACH advances to the title game and will play Liberty Christian today at 4 p.m.

The win for ACH broke more streaks than you can name. The list includes a semifinal or title game loss to Colton every year since 2010. It also includes a number of losses in Colton’s 19-game state tournament winning streak.

Hayes had a two-run single that keyed a five-run Warriors uprising in the bottom of the fifth and broke the game open. She then shut down Colton’s potent offense – the Wildcats had 16 runs in their opener against Naselle – over the final two innings to close out the win.

To say that Colton’s program is a focal point of ACH preparation for the season is an understatement.

“We always talk about beating Colton at state,” Hayes said after the win.

Friday, the focus finally paid off.

Hayes said she went to the circle after the big fifth inning thinking that if there ever was a time to unseat Colton, Friday was that day.

“I knew we needed to shut them down right then,” she said emphatically.

That the Warriors did.

The Warriors opened tournament play beating Quilcene 3-2. Hayes scattered 10 hits – nine in the final four innings – allowing single runs in the fourth and seventh.

Colton, which blanked  Naselle 16-0 in the first round, will play Curlew in the consolation bracket at 2 p.m. A win there would advance the Wildcats to the third/fourth-place game.

Curlew rallied after losing to Sunnyside Christian in its opener, beating Wishkah Valley 5-2.

2B

Colfax was clipped by Pe Ell-Willipa Valley 10-6 late Friday night and was dropped into the consolation bracket. The Bulldogs will face Warden at 10 a.m. today and will need two wins to have a shot at a trophy. The Bulldogs opened play by toppling Kittitas 11-6.

Davenport’s first trip to state since 2010 included the unfortunate task of opening against two-time defending champion Toutle Lake. The Ducks dispatched the Gorillas 19-4. Davenport was then eliminated by Brewster 5-4. Meika Heath had a two-run single in the Gorillas’ four-run fifth inning against Brewster.

Northwest Christian, which lost in the finals in both 2012 and 2013, was stung by Napavine in its opener 18-6. The Crusaders were eliminated by Warden 7-4. NWC scored all its runs in the first two innings against the Cougars in the elimination game.

1A

Lakeside fell 2-1 to Montesano but kept its season alive with an 8-1 consolation win over Deer Park at Columbia Playfields in Richland.

The Eagles opened the day with an 11-9 first-round win over Naches Valley.

They’ll play La Center today at 11 in another consolation elimination game.

Deer Park fell 3-0 to Hoquiam in the first round, then beat Chimacum 10-0 before losing to Lakeside.