RICHLAND — The La Center softball team scored 17 runs in the first day of the Class 1A state tournament.
The Wildcats only needed two.
That’s how good Abby England was Friday. That’s how good the La Center defense was Friday.
And that is how La Center set a school record and advanced to the championship semifinals.
England threw a no-hitter in the opening round, then was perfect in a five-inning game, leading the Wildcats to the final four.
“It’s awesome. It’s wow,” England said of the perfect finish to the day.
“It wasn’t really on my mind. The outcome was awesome.”
England struck out 10 in the second game after fanning 14 in the first game.
Plus her defense was solid when the ball was put in play.
La Center will face Deer Park at 9 a.m. Saturday at Columbia Playfield in Richland. The winner will play for the state title at 2:30 p.m.
The Wildcats beat Lynden Christian 7-0 in Friday’s opener and then stopped Omak 10-0 in the quarterfinals.
“We hit the ball, we played good defense, and the way Abby was throwing, all we had to do was score one run both games,” La Center coach Randy Martinez said. “She really had them confused up there.”
The Wildcats were never confused on offense. They scored two runs in the first inning of both games and they were on their way.
Megan Muffett drove in three runs in each game, with a two-run homer against Omak.
“It’s great because we’ve all been working for this since we were so young,” Muffett said. “It’s getting late in our high school careers. It’s fun to finally accomplish this.”
La Center improved to 25-0, the most wins in a season in program history.
Lead-off batter Alicen Smith went 6 for 6 on the day and scored five runs.
“My role is to get on base and have these two lovely women hit me home,” Smith said, pointing to Muffett and England.
Smith noted that she struggled at the plate last year at state.
“I was really happy today. To be here actually hitting good is a really awesome feeling,” Smith said.
England went 3 for 3 in the quarterfinals, including a home run that hit the top of the fence in center field and bounced over the top.
Of course, England didn’t need to hit. She just needed to stay untouchable.
The only play that nearly ruined the perfect game was the final strikeout of the day for England. The ball got away from Muffett, the catcher, but Muffett chased it down and threw out the batter at first base.
“Abby and I have been best friends for I don’t know how long,” Muffett said. “It’s fun working for her. I call her pitches, and she nails the spot. ‘Yes, we got another one!'”
England called it a “great start” after no-hitting Lynden Christian in the opener.
“I kind of like that I didn’t know it,” she said of the potential no-no. “I was really focusing on doing what I do.”
The Wildcats have one more day in the 2016 high school softball season. They are all focused, hoping to do what they do in order to bring home La Center its first state title in softball.
LA CENTER 10, OMAK 0, 5 innings
Omak 000 00–0 0 2
La Center 201 61–10 15 0
La Center
Pitcher — Abby England 5 IP, win, 10 Ks, perfect game. Highlights — Alicen Smith 4-4; Paige Stinson 1-3; Jessi Weaver 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI; Abby England 3-3, HR, RBI; Charlotte Royal 2-2; Lilly Casey 2-4, 2 RBI; Megan Muffett 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Kayla Aguirre 0-3, RBI.
LA CENTER 7, LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 0
Lydnen Ch. 000 000 0–0 0 1
La Center 210 220 x–7 11 1
La Center
Pitcher — Abby England 7 IP, win, 14 Ks, no-hitter. Highlights — Alicen Smith 2-2; Megan Muffett 1-3, 3 RBI; Jessi Weaver 1-4; Charlotte Royal 2-3; Lilly Casey 1-2, RBI; Kayla Aguirre 2-3; Paige Stinson 2-4, RBI.
