2A softball: Grey shines as Woodland reaches semifinals

SELAH – Olivia Grey knew it was time to shift into a higher gear.

“This is state,” the Woodland pitcher said. “This is what it all comes down to. This is where we’re supposed to shine.”

Grey and the Woodland softball team were brilliant Friday at the 2A state softball tournament in Selah. The Beavers won twice convincingly to reach the semifinals Saturday.

Ridgefield is in the consolation bracket after a 1-0 loss to Ellensburg in the quarterfinals. The Spudders rebounded with a 11-1 win over Lakeview to keep their season alive.

Perhaps none of the dozens of players at Carlon Park Friday were more dominant than Grey. The junior had 17 strikeouts in a 6-0 first-round win over Cheney, then followed with 18 strikeouts in a 12-3 quarterfinal win over Port Angeles.

“I just wanted to be sure to give my team a good base to score some runs,” Grey said. “Every strikeout I get for them makes my defense work a little bit less. It’s going to be a long weekend, so I just wanted to make sure we’re going to stay in it.”

Woodland (23-3) is more than just in it. In the semifinals, the Beavers face defending champion W.F. West of Chehalis. Woodland took the Bearcats to extra innings last weekend in the district semifinals.

“We’re going to compete with whoever, whenever,” Grey said. “I have full faith in my team. I want to play WF West again and the whole team does too.”

Grey’s team gave her more than enough run support. Kaily Christensen homered twice against Cheney, then added another home run against Port Angeles.

The Beavers clubbed six home runs on the day. Lila Russell, Kelley Sweyer and Payten Foster also cleared the 200-foot fences.

Christensen said it’s important to get hits early in a tournament.

“It’s contagious,” she said. “The energy builds. Everyone gets excited and it just builds from there. That’s how we get going.”

Ridgefield’s Kaia Oliver also racked up the strikeouts. She had 16 in Ridgefield’s 7-4 opening-round win over Olympic of Bremerton.

Calli Martin ignited the Ridgefield offense in the first inning with a three-run home run, a line drive to center that was never more than 30 feet off the ground.

After failing to win a game at last year’s state tournament, Friday’s opening-round win was sweet for the Spudders (19-4).

“Winning the first game set our bar higher, so it’s higher to reach each game,” Martin said.

Against Ellensburg, Oliver struck out 12, walked none and allowed just two hits. But an unearned run in the sixth inning gave the lead to Ellensburg (22-2). Ridgefield left eight runners on base, including runners at second and third in the seventh inning.

The Spudders bounced back in the consolation round. Sarah Jenkins, Emma Jenkins and Mia Tomillo all homered as Ridgefield clubbed 11 hits in five innings against Lakewood.

The Spudders must win twice Saturday to reach the third-place game, starting against Sedro-Woolley at 10 a.m.

WOODLAND 6, CHENEY 0

Woodland      021     001     2 — 6  8 0

Cheney          000     000     0 – 0 2 2

Woodland

Pitching – Olivia Grey 7 IP, 17 K, 1 BB. Offensive highlights – Lila Russell 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, SB; Justice Holcomb 1-3, RBI, SB; Kelly Sweyer 2-4, R; Kaily Christensen 3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR, 2B; Mabel Warndahl 1-3, R.

WOODLAND 12, PORT ANGELES 3

P.Angeles     104     133     0 — 12 18 1

Woodland      000     003     0 – 3 3 1

Woodland

Pitching – Olivia Grey 7 IP, 18 K, 2 BB. Offensive highlights – Lila Russell 1-4, R; Justice Holcomb 2-5, RBI, 2B; Chloe Eddy 3-5, 2 R; 2 RBI, 2 2B; Kelly Sweyer 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, 2B; Kaily Christensen 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR; Payten Foster 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2B; Carleigh Risley 3-4, R; Maddi Bunger 2-4, R, RBI; 2 2B.

RIDGEFIELD 7, OLYMPIC 4

Ridgefield      310     030     0 — 714 1

Olympic          001     030     0 – 4 9 2

Ridgefield

Pitching – Kaia Oliver 7 IP, 16 K, 2 BB. Offensive highlights – Sarah Jenkins 1-4; Madison Syring 1-2, R; Madalyn Chapman 1-1; Emma Jenkins 3-4, RBI; Calli Martin 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR; Lily Mittman 2-4, R, RBI; Kekai Schultz 1-4; Kaia Oliver 2-4, R, 2 RBI; Mia Tomillo 1-4, R, 2B.

ELLENSBURG 1, RIDGEFIELD 0

Ellensburg    000     001     0 – 1 2 1

Ridgefield      000     000     0 — 0  7 2

Ridgefield

Pitching – Kaia Oliver 7 IP, 12 K, 0 BB. Offensive highlights – Sarah Jenkins 2-4, SB; Emma Jenkins 2-3; Kaia Oliver 1-2; Mia Tomillo 1-2; Karli Oliver 1-3.

RIDGEFIELD 11, LAKEWOOD 1

Ridgefield      322     13 — 11 11  1

Lakewood      100     00 – 1 1 6

Ridgefield

Pitching – Sarah Jenkins 5 IP, 12 K, 2 BB. Offensive highlights – Sarah Jenkins 4-4, 4 R, RBI, HR; Emma Jenkins 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR; Calli Martin 2-4, R, 2 RBI; Kaia Oliver 1-2, R.