Colton nine bags fourth straight title

As sure a sign of a Yakima spring as bicycle-riding popsicle vendors and fresh coats of graffiti, Colton’s Wildcats ruled over the Gateway Sports Complex last weekend to claim a state softball title.

The Wildcat nine rolled through the 1B tournament, toppling an all-too-familiar foe in the championship game to claim the state’s bronze mitt trophy for the fourth straight time.

“We had to take our trophy on a tour to Yakima before bringing it back home,” said Colton Coach Brad Nilson.

The ‘cats earned the trophy mitt with a 5-2 title game win over Almira/Coulee/Hartline, the same team they beat for last year’s championship.

The superstitious Nilson said routine has been the key to his team’s success.

They eat at the same Red Robin when they get to Yakima, at the same Subway between Friday games and forces them to go to the mall before Saturday’s games.

“I know it’s kind of hard to believe a bunch of teenage girls would whine about having to go to the mall,” said Nilson. “But they just want to go play.”

After sweeping a pair of ten-run wins in the opening rounds, Colton appeared headed for the title off Saturday’s first pitch.

Third baseman Jenna Moser ripped a lead-off double and came in on a follow-up RBI double off the bat of Erin Weber.

Taylor Nilson then buzzed down the Warriors in a 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning.

ACH pushed across its first run on a double steal in the bottom of the second. The Warriors added another run in the inning to stake a 2-1 lead.

That margin held until the bottom of the fifth when Colton’s seniors put together a rally. Haley Moser rapped a single and moved to third on Weber’s ground rule double to right field. Both came around to score on a single by first bagger Meghan Heitstuman.

The next crop of Wildcats followed in the top of the sixth with catcher Carrie Hennigar knocking in Kaden Dahmen and Winnie Schultheis to take the Colton lead to 5-2.

Karlee Martin of ACH started the bottom of the sixth by striking a sinking line drive into centerfield, but Webber stretched out for a spectacular diving grab to send Martin back to the dugout.

“She’s talked about wanting to make a diving catch since she was a freshman,” Coach Nilson said of his senior. “She said it kind of hurt.”

The Warriors tried for a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Julianna Hughes ripped a triple to right field. Dahmen picked up the ball and fired a relay toss into the middle of the infield. Hughes went for home on the errant throw before heading back to the hot corner bag where Jenna Moser was waiting with the ball of a strike from shortstop Katilin Druffel.

“That’s not how that relay’s supposed to go, but it worked,” said Coach Nilson. “It was almost like a Bad News Bear set-up play.”

The failed triple sucked the remaining air out of the ACH dugout before Mariah Burchill popped up to second baseman Haley Moser to give the ‘cats the title.

Taylor Nilson, the daughter of Coach Brad, worked a complete game, giving up two runs on four hits over seven innings.

The title tilt was the final game for the four Colton seniors who played a part in each of the ‘cats four straight titles; Meghan Heitstuman at first base, Haley Moser at second, Taylor Nilson at pitcher and Erin Weber in center.

“This is one group that’s going to be hard to replace,” said Coach Nilson.

Nilson noted daughter Taylor will be tough to replace on the mound, as will Heitstuman’s power bat, Moser’s athleticism at second and Weber’s dogged work ethic.

Colton earned its slot in the championship game with a sweep of play Friday.

The ‘cats opened Friday with a 10-0 five inning win over Wishkah Valley. Nilson did not give up a hit in the abbreviated contest.

Colton followed in the next game by putting up seven runs in the second inning and cruising to a 13-3 six-inning win over highly-touted Curlew.