Olivia Grey brings the heat for the Beavers during the state championship game against Ellensburg. She racked up 69 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched in the tournament.
The Woodland High School softball players and coaches hold their 2A state championship trophies. Players: Maddi Bunger, Lila Russell, Kelly Sweyer, Katherine Paloutzian, Justice Holcomb, Daylin Siple, Kaily Christensen, Gwen Elkinton, Carleigh Risley, Payten Foster, Olivia Grey, Chloe Eddy, Mabel Warndahl and Carla Stubbs. Coaches: Tom Christensen, Josh Bunger, Frances Camp and Molly Malinowski.
Sensational hitting and pitching propelled Woodland to the 2A state softball championship May 25 and 26 at Carlon Park in Selah.
“It’s pretty freaking cool,” said senior Mabel Warndahl.
“You didn’t want to look back after a game wishing you swung at that pitch or threw that girl out,” added senior Lila Russell. “Leave it all on the field. That was our motto.”
The Beavers whipped defending state champion W.F. West 10-1 in the semifinals. Payten Foster belted a grand slam and Chloe Eddy and Carleigh Risley also hit home runs. Olivia Grey struck out 15 Bearcats in seven innings pitched. It was 9-0 Woodland before W.F. West scored its only run in the sixth inning.
The outburst occured eight days after Woodland lost to W.F. West at districts in 10 innings.
“When the rematch came around, I hoped we would come out hot and we definitely did,” Kelly Sweyer said. “I don’t think they were ready for it.”
The Beavers beat Ellensburg 5-1 for the state championship. Grey pitched a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts. Russell went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Eddy, Foster and Maddi Bunger also knocked in runs.
“This was the state championship game, and our team was dancing in the dugout and playing softball like we had all season,” Russell said.
“We didn’t put any unnecessary pressure on ourselves,” Warndahl added.
Kaily Christensen smacked three home runs to help Woodland defeat Cheney 6-0 and Port Angeles 12-3 in the first two rounds. Sweyer, Russell and Foster also cleared the fences in those games.
“It was cool to see different people step up every time,” Christensen said. “Once one person starts hitting, it’s contagious.”
Grey pitched a two-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts against Cheney. She racked up 18 strikeouts against Port Angeles.
“When my teammates are out there hitting home runs, or even just getting base hits, that inspires me,” Grey said.
Grey gave credit to catcher Justice Holcomb. The two discussed the game plan before and after each inning. Grey also knew the defense had her back, so she just concentrated on throwing her best pitch. For the tournament, Grey struck out 69 opposing batters in 28 innings pitched.
“It didn’t really feel like that many strikeouts,” she said. “I had no idea until somebody told me after the last game.”
After losing to W.F. West at districts, Woodland won its last six games to become state champions with a record of 25-3.
“We really can do anything. Last year wasn’t a perfect season. This year wasn’t a perfect season, but nothing has to be perfect to make it good,” Grey said. “We were the underdogs in league, districts and definitely at state but we proved we are the group that could do it.”
Warndahl and Russell will graduate from the high school in a few weeks, but the rest of the Beavers should be back for more. This could be just the start of a championship run on the softball diamond at Woodland.
“Toward the end of the season, I wouldn’t have called us a team. I would have called us a family,” Sweyer said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before. It’s life changing.”
