Colton run to the playoff ends in loss to ACH

The amazing playoff run by the Colton Wildcats ended with this team photo after they collected the second place trophy. The 'cats playoff run ended at 4-1 after they bowed to Almira Coulee Hartline in the title game.

Colton’s baseball charge through the playoffs came to a halt Saturday night in the 1B championship game against a tough Almira-Coulee-Hartline club. The Wildcats, who started their run to the title after placing fourth in the SE league, finished the playoff run at 4-1 after the Warriors prevailed 8-3 in the championship game.

The ACH-Colton tilt was the lone matchup for the 1B clubs and finished off a five-game state stand at Yakima Valley College’s Parker Field.

Colton Coach Pat Doumit credited Warrior senior hurler Kody Dillon with putting the stop on the Wildcats.

Senior shortstop Andrew Tietjen reels in a fly in the 1B title game.

“He was able to change speeds, and I don’t think we’ve seen a curve ball like that all year,” Doumit said.

Dillon held the Wildcats to four hits. Colton rattled him for two runs in the top of the seventh, but he settled down for the 8-3 title win.

Dillon finished with eight strikeouts in hurling the four hit win.

ACH offense booked nine hits total. The Warriors stacked an 8-1 lead after three innings.

Coach Doumit called sophomore Bricyn Abdul out to the mound in the third inning and the big sophomore put the stops on the Warrior offense over the next three innings but the Wildcats couldn’t ignite their offense against Dillon.

Senior shortstop Andrew Tietjen had two of the four Colton hits with a double. Abdul and Bernie Druffel had the other hits.

Dylan Tipps led the Warrior bats with four of their 10 hits, including two doubles. Tipps was credited with four RBIs.

Colton actually finished the season with a 12-13 record, including the 4-1 run in the playoffs.

Doumit noted the power finish in the playoff run came close to erasing the Wildcats’ slow start, but they still finished under .500.

“It just a case of a team getting it together at the right time,” he said.

The charge included a 2-0 mark in the regional round last week in Yakima to the one-game final at Parker Field.

The Warriors finished the season at 14-7. Saturday night’s win over the Wildcats was their first title win.

Coach Doumit noted the long wait for the single game decider at Yakima was a little tedious. Two years ago, Colton qualified for what was then the final four at Yakima.

Doumit feels the final four format provided a better test of pitching depth for the state finalists.

Six of the Wildcats will be part of the Pullman Patriots Legion team which Doumit plans to coach again this summer.