The Woodland softball team found itself in an unusual position Saturday.
After Olivia Grey allowed her first earned run all season in the first inning, the Beavers trailed in the 2A district championship game against Ridgefield in Longview.
But Woodland rallied in the sixth inning to win 3-1 and improve to 22-0. Kelly Sweyer’s two-run home run was followed by Payten Foster’s solo shot.
Both teams are headed to the state tournament next weekend in Selah for the second straight year. Woodland is aiming to defend its state title.
With Grey, last year’s state player of the year, the Beavers have been unbeatable.
But Ridgefield, playing in memory of coach Dusty Anchors, who died last week, scored a rare run off Grey. Karli Oliver walked, stole second base, then scored on Emma Jenkins’ RBI single, one of two Ridgefield hits all game.
Grey struck out 12 and walked two.
Mountain View wins bi-district title
Mountain View roughed up one of the state’s best pitchers en route to winning the 3A bi-district title in Lacey.
In the semifinals, the Thunder beat Bonney Lake ace Brooke Nelson, who broke the state’s all-time strikeout record of 1,117 during the game. Sydney Brown stuck out 12 and allowed just four hits in the 7-1 win.
Mountain View (21-2)then beat Stadium 6-2 in the championship game. Maelyn Ocampo homered and the Thunder made the most of just five hits, drawing six walks as well.
Prairie won two loser-out games to grab the last of five bi-district berths to the state tournament. The Falcons beat Kelso 7-3 then downed Spanaway Lake 9-4.
Chloe McDaniel went a combined 5 for 9 and Alysia Fraley homered for Prairie against Spanaway Lake.
Battle Ground, Skyview clinch state berths
Battle Ground and Skyview clinched state berths, reaching the semifinals at the 4A bi-district tournament in Kent.
Battle Ground’s bats were hot. The Tigers opened with a 15-5 win over Todd Beamer before beating Kentwood 13-2 in the quarterfinals. Battle Ground (17-5) will face Tahoma in the semifinals on Sunday.
Skyview clubbed six home runs in their 13-7 first-round win at the hitter-friendly Kent Service Club Ballfields. Marie Hyde and Ashlyn Deboever each went deep twice.
Skyview clinched a state berth by beating Puyallup 13-6 in the quarterfinals. Hyde and Deboever again homered and Addi MacPherson drove in three runs.
Skyview (14-6) will face Sumner in the bi-district semifinals.
Camas kept its season alive by beating Federal Way 4-2 after falling to Puyallyup 8-7 in the first round. Mary Pipken allowed just six hits, while also going 2 for 3 with a home run in the must-win game.
Camas must survive another loser-out game before it could earn a state berth in the following game.
