Woodland repeats as 2A state softball champions

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The Woodland High School softball team became repeat state champs after pitching a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over W.F. West on May 25 in Selah. 

It was star pitcher Olivia Grey’s second no-hitter of the 2019 state tournament in which she also racked up 66 strikeouts and four shutouts. 

The championship game was scoreless until the third inning when Kat Paloutzian was hit by a pitch. Kaily Christenson hit next, slamming a home run over the centerfield fence for a 2-0 lead. 

Kelly Sweyer then hit a solo home run in the fourth inning for the final run of the game. 

The state win comes after a near perfect season for the Beavers. They only lost to Montesano, a non-league opponent, on May 21. It was their first loss since the district semi-finals last year when the Beavers fell to W.F. West 10-5.

“It’s kinda surreal,” Grey said about the repeat state championship. “I think we were lucky enough last year to win for the second time in program history. But it’s another thing to come back the next year and do it all over again.”

The girls equate their reign to team chemistry, including keeping up a set of rituals since last year. 

“Life is a Highway,” has been our song for two years straight,” Grey said. “We listen to that before every warm-up; we listen to it while we run.”

“Taking things seriously but knowing when to have fun is part of our chemistry that helps us be such a great team,” Kat Paloutzian said.

Woodland ended their 2019 season 12-0 in league and 26-1 overall and with a state championship. The team is graduating five seniors this year, star pitcher Grey being one of them.



Grey is headed to play softball at Portland State University. 

Not just Woodland

The Ridgefield Spudders brought home their first state softball hardware since 2004 with an 8-2 win on over Tumwater on May 25, placing third in the tournament. The Spudders hit hard at the beginning of the game with a three-run home run hit by Kaia Oliver in the first inning.

Ridgefield finished their season 10-2 league and 22-6 overall. The team is graduating five seniors. 

Prairie

After losing in the first round of the 3A State Softball Championship to Garfield High School 6-1, the Prairie Falcons lost out in the consolation bracket and failed to place. 

Battle Ground

After losing in the first round of the 4A State Softball Championship to Redmond High School 3-1, the Battle Ground Tigers lost out in the consolation bracket and failed to place.