State 1A/2B/1B softball: Colton rolls past Pomeroy to win State 1B crown
Colton broke through for 11 runs in the final two innings Saturday and defeated Pomeroy 14-6 to win the State 1B softball title at Tay Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.
For Colton (18-5), the title is the seventh in the last eight seasons.
After the Wildcats trailed for much of the game, senior Rachel Meyer sent a sixth-inning flare to right field that tied the game at 5. Daylinn Smith scorched a line drive down the left-field line to score the go-ahead run and Colton was never slowed down.
“This year means a lot more because we had to build over and start over,” Colton coach Brad Nilson said. “My pitcher was my catcher last year. She’s worked hard to get where we are. We wouldn’t be where we are without her.”
That pitcher, Emma Schultheis, weathered some early Pomeroy fireworks as the Pirates scored five of their runs in the first three innings. But she scattered five hits the rest of the way.
Almira/Coulee-Hartline took home the fourth-place trophy, losing to Quilcene 11-2.
Quilcene pitcher Bailey Kieffer limited the Warriors to singles by Sarah Bradshaw, Andrea Olson and Kenadee Loomis.
The Warriors (16-4) rebounded from Friday’s semifinal loss to Colton with a 16-3 win over defending champion Liberty Christian to get into the trophy game. Olson and winning pitcher Bradshaw had three hits each for ACH, which took advantage of six Liberty Christian errors.
State 1A
Becca Jewett had three hits, including a double, as Bellevue Christian (19-7) defeated Deer Park 2-1 to keep the Stags from advancing to a placing game in Richland. Bellevue Christian moved on and placed third.
Payton Erickson of the Stags (15-10) had three hits in the game and four on the day. DP’s Kylie Sweeney struck out 12 over two games.
The Stags began the day with a 13-0 semifinal loss to La Center, as Abigail England threw a two-hitter, homered and tripled. La Center (26-0) defeated Montesano 9-7 in the title game.
State 2B
Springdale’s consolation stay lasted just one game as the Chargers (15-11) were eliminated by Friday Harbor 14-4 in five innings in Yakima.
Junior leadoff hitter Sierra Sanchez had three hits for the Chargers.
The loss kept Springdale from having a chance at its first fastpitch trophy.