The Ridgefield softball team took home its first 2A district title in nearly two decades this past week at Rec Park in Chehalis, taking down two traditional powers from the 2A Evergreen Conference before downing upstart Centralia 5-2 in the title game Friday, May 19.
Charlie Harris and Tava Whitlow combined to go 5 for 6 with two runs scored and two driven in at the bottom of the lineup for the Spudders, while Makayla Ferguson went 2 for 4 with a solo home run to cap off Ridgefield’s scoring in the bottom of the fifth.
Elizabeth Peery went the distance in the circle, giving up two runs on nine hits in her second win of the weekend.
Ridgefield started its run Thursday, May 18, against defending district champs W.F. West, and after three scoreless innings, jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fifth. The Bearcats came back with five runs in the top of the sixth off of Peery on two home runs, but Kaylen Wingerd got the Spudders out of the jam, and Ridgefield manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame to pull away for good.
Wingerd and Peery switched roles in Ridgefield’s second game, this time against defending state champs Tumwater. The T-Birds jumped on Wingerd for three runs in the top of the first inning, and midway through the second, the Spudders gave the ball to Peery, who went on to allow just two hits in five scoreless innings of relief.
Whitlow, Mallory Vancleave and Madison Walker all came up with three hits across the two Thursday games for Ridgefield, while Faith Smith went 3 for 3 with two RBIs just against Tumwater.
The district title was Ridgefield softball’s first since 2004.
On Sunday, May 21, the Spudders were dealt the No. 3 seed in the upcoming 2A state tournament by the selection committee.
Ridgefield will open play in Selah on Friday, May 26, against No. 14 East Valley (Yakima), then face either No. 6 Port Angeles or No. 11 Cedarcrest in either the quarterfinals or a loser-out game.
