Wildcats second in state 1B fastpitch

Rival Liberty Christian wins title, 4-1, over Colton

Teresa Simpson, Whitman County Gazette | Jun 02, 20220

Roger Harnack | The Gazette count

The Colton Wildcats girls fastpitch softball team pose with their state 1B second-place trophy Saturday, May 28, at Gateway Park in Yakima.

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Inchelium's Annmarie Simpson tags out Colton's Sidni Whitcomb as she slides into second base during the state 1B semifinals Saturday, May 28.

YAKIMA - The Colton Wildcats girls fastpitch softball team brought home the second-place trophy from the state 1B tournament at Gateway Park.

Colton was among three teams from the district to place in the Top 3 - top-seeded Liberty Christian won the title and No. 4-ranked DeSales of Walla Walla was third.

Colton finished where it was ranked - No. 2.

"It was a good weekend all around." Colton Athletic Director Jim Moehrle said. "The kids played well. It was good to be back to playing a state tournament."

Liberty Christian topped Colton, 4-1, in the championship game as a light rain fell Saturday, May 28.

"They played well all weekend," Moehrle said. "No big issues as far as errors or anything. They hit the ball really well."

The Wildcats split with Liberty Christian in the regular season.

"They've got two really good hitters." Moehrle said "We just didn't capitalize when we had our opportunities."

The Wildcat girls opened state play by routing Wilbur-Creston, 18-3, on Friday, May 27. They followed up that victory with an 11-6 win over No. 3-ranked Inchelium.

Both Inchelium and Wilbur-Creston knocked off defending two time state champion Almira-Coulee/Hartline in regional action last week, setting up big expectations for state.

Cross-bracket, Liberty Christian opened by blanking No. 8-seeded Darrington, 10-0. In the semifinals, the Patriots then edged another league rival, the No. 4-ranked DeSales Fighting Irish, 13-12.