Wildcats lock up return to title defense

Dusty Bafus of the Eagles puts the tag on Erin Weber of the Wildcats in the playoff game last Thursday at Colton.

Colton girls Friday defeated Touchet in the eighth inning in a playoff at Washtucna to guarantee a return to Yakima to defend the 1B title they won last year. The Wildcats finished in the number-one SE slot after defeating Touchet 3-2 at Washtucna.

Both Colton and Touchet advance to a SE-NE playoff Saturday at Medical Lake. They will join four NE teams to compete for four state berths out of the regional.

Colton will have a bye in the first round and then play the winner of the St....