CENTRALIA – Although Seton Catholic fell brief within the Class 1A softball district championship sport, the Cougars completed their major mission Thursday.
Seton secured its second consecutive berth to the state match with a dramatic 2-1 win over top-seeded Rochester within the semifinals at Fort Borst Park.
So whereas Seton got here up brief 14-6 to defending champion Montesano within the title sport, the Cougars are looking forward to a return journey to state subsequent weekend in Richland.
Final 12 months, the Cougars made a shock run to the state title sport as a No. 6 seed. This 12 months, the Trico League champs are not a darkhorse regardless of having only one senior and two juniors.
“Main mission accomplished,” mentioned Seton coach Carrie Farrell Kosderka. “It’s very different for us. Last year we were a bunch of young kids. Even when we got to state, we were kind of clueless. It’s a very different journey when you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders.”
To handle that stress, Farrell Kosderka has made certain her staff’s targets haven’t been solely targeted on successful a title.
“Our goal is to be better than we were a year ago,” she mentioned. “Honestly, we are better than we were a year ago. And if we win a state championship, then great.”
No matter awaits Seton Catholic on the state match subsequent week, it will likely be onerous to high the drama of the win that punched the Cougars’ ticket to Richland.
Seton trailed 1-0 heading into the highest of the seventh and hadn’t mustered successful because the third inning in opposition to Rochester’s Layla Demers. However Ellie Travalia led off the inning with a single and scored from first base on Tegan Figueroa’s one-out double.
Grace Farrell then got here up clutch with two outs. After fouling off three consecutive pitches, the No. 9 hitter and coach’s daughter lined a single into middle discipline to attain Travalia with the go-ahead run.
“When she came up, I told her ‘I’m so glad you’re coming up to bat.’” Farrell Kosderka mentioned. “She goes ‘what?’ I said ‘you’ve been the most consistent in putting the ball in play this whole time.’ We’ve had some kids who are really consistent and it’s not always the top of our lineup.”
Seton pitcher Jocelyn Kender then stranded the potential tying run at second base, finishing a sport wherein she had seven strikeouts and allowed six singles and two walks.
Within the championship sport, Montesano jumped to a 9-0 lead thanks partially to a grand slam by Regan Wintrip within the high of the third.
Seton Catholic clawed again with 5 runs within the backside of the fourth. Kenzie Kuhnhausen’s two-RBI double was adopted by RBI singles from Kylie McMaster and Figueroa.
Seton pulled inside 9-6 with a run within the backside of the sixth, Montesano broke the sport open with 5 runs within the seventh thanks to 6 hits, a stroll and an error.
“Mentally we did not handle that game very well,” Farrell Kosderka mentioned. “I told them, I may be a jerk this week. I may be the umpire and call horrible calls because they bounce back so quickly. But today was mentally a rough day. The inexperience does come roaring back.”
La Middle noticed its season finish with a 13-3 loss to Lynden Christian in a winner to state, loser out sport.
La Middle opened play Thursday by maintaining its season alive with a 11-7 win over Kalama in eight innings. Jessica Tomberlin scored the go-ahead run on an error earlier than Lauren Baker clubbed a two-run house run.
Hailey Piper despatched the sport into further innings with a two-out RBI single within the high of the seventh to tie the sport 7-7.
Katelynn Jones went 4 for five with 4 doubles for Kalama, which noticed its season finish at 12-7.
After beating Kalama, La Middle missed an opportunity to achieve state with a 20-8 loss to Rochester. Billie Ross hit a three-run house run and Baker had two doubles and 4 RBI.
