Posse bags state AA ticket

Pullman Posse rolled up a 2-1 record in Legion 2A playoffs at Jackson Field in Spokane and qualified to play in state finals which will be at Yakima this week.

The state playoff grid includes 16 teams which will play at Parker Field and Davis High in Yakima in a double elimination tourney which will end with title game next Thursday, Aug. 1.

Posse is booked to play Mt. Vernon, the top finisher in the District one playoffs, in the first state round today at 4 p.m. at Davis High in Yakima.

A win would advance them to a Sunday game against the winner of the Wilder-Yakima Valley Peppers at Davis. A loss would put them up against the loser of the Wilder-Peppers game, also on Sunday.

In the first round at the district action in Spokane, the Posse lost to Gonzaga Prep 5-6 in the first round at Jackson Field.

The Posse came back for two wins, 9-8 over Colville and 7-6 over Mead, to get the district’s number-five ticket to state.

Against Colville, Layne Gingerich of Colfax rapped a three-run hit to tie the game and then scored on a rap by Taylor Horner for the winning run.

In the qualifying win, Mead’s pitching went off the track in the late innings and Posse scored the winning run when Oak Held was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Mt. Spokane topped the Spokane playoff. Other qualifiers were Gonzaga Prep, second; University, third, and Asotin, fourth.