2A SOFTBALL: Woodland brings home third-place trophy

It has been quite a while since the Woodland softball team played in the state tournament.

Try 1982. When it was slow pitch.

There was nothing slow about sophomore Emily Holt’s pitching as she added 37 more strikeouts over three games as the Beavers came away from Carlon Park in Selah with the Class 2A third-place trophy.

"The girls fought hard and showed they deserved to be there," Woodland coach Damon Yeo said. "The younger players came through and really grew up here."

Woodland’s day started with the thoughts of a championship game. The Beavers faced Ellensburg in the semifinals, falling 2-0 in nine innings. Holt had 17 strikeouts in the game.

Ellensburg then lost to Burlington-Edison 5-1 in the title game.

The Beavers rebounded with a 9-3 victory over Anacortes in the third-place semifinal, coming back for a 2-0 deficit.

Woodland then defeated Tumwater 5-0 for the third-place trophy.

Yeo said with just two seniors on this year’s roster, Woodland is already looking forward to next season.

"This has been good experience for the players," he said.