One hit, one run, one ticket punched for Ridgefield

CENTRALIA — When Ridgefield coach Nick Allen took over as the Spudders’ baseball coach six years ago, he asked a fellow coach what he thought of Ridgefield athletes.

“He said they were soft,” Allen said.

That coach likely has a different opinion after the Spudders’ 1-0 win over W.F. West.

There was a herculean task ahead for the Spudders when they stepped on to Wheeler Field Wednesday: Beat one-loss W.F. West with the Bearcats’ ace, University of Washington commit Brock Jones, on the hill.

The Spudders collected just one hit and committed four errors, but they showed the determination Allen has hoped of his team for years.

Clay Madsen hustled out a soft roller to first base in the fifth inning for Ridgefield’s only hit. He advanced to second on a walk and then to third on a throwing error. A moment later, Bryce Fry gave a hard step off first base to draw the pickoff attempt from Jones. When the ball got to the first baseman’s glove, Fry rolled out of the way. Meanwhile, Madsen was stealing home.

It was all the Spudders needed.

“Just fight and resolve I’ve never seen from us,” Allen said. “If that’s not grit I don’t know what is.”

The victory secured Ridgefield (16-6) its first state berth since 2012. The Spudders will play 2A Greater St. Helens League champion Columbia River (18-4) on Friday. The time and site will be confirmed Thursday morning, but teams were trying to move the location to Clark County from the originally scheduled W.F. West.

“It means the world,” Madsen said. “We’ve been working toward it for awhile now and it’s been a big goal for our program.”

While Jones rightfully drew the eyes of scouts and fans alike Wednesday, Ridgefield ace Spencer Andersen went toe to toe.

Jones finished with seven strikeouts, one hit allowed and two walks. Andersen, a Lower Columbia College commit, went five innings with five strikeouts, one hit allowed and two walks.

“I was just going to throw some strikes,” Andersen said. “Brock is a great pitcher. I’ve faced him many times in the past. We’re friends. But I knew I had to outlast him, so I did that.”

Andersen has been the pitcher in season-ending defeats the past three years. On Wednesday, he finally was on the other end of a season-defining game.

“That performance right there from him was four years of varsity baseball packed into a game,” Allen said. “To have him with that performance to get us to state, jeez o’ criminey. It was awesome.”