BATTLE GROUND — The Redmond softball team made two trips to Clark County … on its way to Spokane.
The Battle Ground Tigers could not figure out a way to score against the Mustangs on Saturday nor Tuesday.
Redmond won a long-delayed bi-district playoff game, prevailing 5-0 Tuesday in a matchup that was postponed in the fifth inning Saturday. Redmond will head to Spokane for the Class 4A state tournament. Battle Ground’s season came to an end.
“I’m proud of them,” Batle Ground coach Arielle Wiser said of her Tigers. “Nothing to hang their heads. They had an amazing season. They made history with our program.”
Battle Ground finished 20-3 — Wiser said she believed that is the most wins in school history.
“It was an amazing experience,” said senior pitcher Parker Boyd, who struck out 16 and gave up one earned run in her final appearance for the Tigers. “I’ve learned so much with this team. I got really lucky with these girls.”
The Tigers were hoping for one more weekend together. Instead, the Mustangs grabbed that final berth to state.
“Tip our hats off,” Wiser said, referring to Redmond. “They’re a high-caliber team. Things didn’t go in our favor.”
Redmond took a 5-0 lead Saturday, highlighted by Kaija Gibson’s grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
The Tigers had life in the bottom of the frame, though, loading the bases with no outs before rain stopped the game. Days later, the Mustangs made the long trip south to complete the game.
Redmond pitcher Kiki Milloy struck out the first two batters she faced Tuesday, then Gibson made a diving catch to save two runs for the third out.
“I just knew to focus on getting the first batter, not to worry about what’s around me,” Milloy said.
“I was just trying to get that first out for my team. Once you get that one out, you carry on.”
Milloy said it was a long journey, especially to only play 2 1/2 innings. “But we put the work in, and we shut them out,” she said.
Boyd said it was “really weird” and a “hard thing” to start in the middle of a game.
The Tigers had their opportunities, too. Besides leaving the bases loaded in the fifth, they also had two runners on and one out in the sixth before lining into a double play. They also had two on and one out in the bottom of the seventh but again did not get the clutch hit to start a scoring rally.
The Tigers will say goodbye to four seniors, including three starters.
They will return in 2017 as defending league and district champions. Wiser said they will continue to expect big things.
“It fires you up for next year,” she said.
REDMOND 5, BATTLE GROUND 0
Redmond 010 040 0–5 6 0
B. Ground 000 000 0–0 6 2
Redmond
Pitcher — Kiki Milloy 7 IP, win, 8 Ks. Highlights — Milloy 1-3; Rachel Robinson 0-3, RBI; Lindsay Tsujikawa 3-3; Haley Hanson 1-3; Kaija Gibson 1-3, HR, 4 RBI.
Battle Ground
Pitcher — Parker Boyd 7 IP, loss, 1 ER, 16 Ks. Highlights — Danielle Joli 2-3; Alexis Morrison 1-3; Haley Buck 1-2; Lorigan Steuben 1-3; McKayla Perry 1-1, 2B.
