Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Pomeroy beat Colton 4-3 to end the Wildcats’ softball season May 26 in a state loser’s bracket game for a chance to advance to play for third and fourth-place.
At Yakima’s Gateway Sports Complex, the Wildcats began the state tournament last Friday with a 15-1 win over Wishkah Valley followed by a 5-4 loss to Almira/Coulee/Hartline in the state semifinals.
Tied 4-4 with ACH in an extra inning, the top of the eighth, Colton junior catcher Abby Kelly hit a deep shot toward home-run territory, before the ball landed in the glove of a Warriors outfielder.
“The girl had her butt against the fence when she caught it,” said Wildcats’ coach Brad Nilson.
In the bottom of the eighth, ACH scored to end the game and take them to the state final against Quilcene.
“We played well, we just came up short,” said Nilson. “Someone had to win, someone had to lose. It could’ve gone either way.”
Dropping into the lower bracket to meet Pomeroy, a familiar foe from the Southeast 1B league – which Colton had beaten three times this year – the Pirates scored three runs in the first inning.
Colton then held them off, allowing one more run as the Wildcats scored three to cut the lead to 4-3. That was as close as they would get.
“We were just flat, and couldn’t get back in it,” Nilson said, whose team returned from the state 1B tournament without placing for the first time in his 12 years as head coach.
Colton finished the season at 20-5 overall, a team with no seniors.
“It’s a learning experience,” Nilson said. “If you don’t learn, there’s no point in being there, is there?”
In the state championship game, ACH beat Quilcene 11-0 to take the title – something Colton has won seven of since 2008.
“You just learn to not take things for granted, that’s for sure,” Nilson said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)