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All-Region softball: Abby England, La Center

Pitcher led victory parade in Wildcats' 27-0 season

By Paul Valencia, Columbian High School Sports Reporter
Published: June 17, 2016, 10:47pm

There was the initial celebration.

The screams. The hugs.

All of that happened seconds after La Center won its first state softball championship last month.

Hours later, though, there was another celebration.

The Wildcats took the long drive home from Richland and were greeted with a police and fire department escort through town and to the school.

More than a hundred fans lined the route.

A perfect ending to a perfect day and a perfect season.

La Center pitcher Abby England recalled the difference between last year and this year. The Wildcats did not perform to their own expectations in the 2015 state tournament.

“This year, after we won the first game (at state), it was straight drive. No letting up. No taking the foot off the gas pedal. We were ready to take it all the way,” England said. “A four-hour ride home, if you don’t do well, is no fun.

“Lot more fun to be escorted back to your small town.”

England was untouchable on the first day of state this year — a no-hitter and a perfect game. She threw another shutout on the second day, in the semifinals. At the plate, she hit two home runs in the tournament.

And she got the final out of the season — her 43rd strikeout of the tourney — to clinch the championship.

That capped La Center’s 27-0 season, a year that saw England strike out 226 in 133 innings as she recorded a minuscule 0.84 ERA. Plus, she was always a threat with the bat.

With that, England, a junior, is The Columbian’s All-Region softball player of the year.

“From the very beginning of the season, when people asked me about our season, I said I would be disappointed if we didn’t win state,” England said.

England was frustrated when she gave up a three-run home run in the second inning of the championship game, watching as her team fell behind for the first time that weekend.

“The best part is when your teammates come in (to the dugout) and say ‘Oh, we got this. It doesn’t matter,'” England said.

Sure enough, the Wildcats — featuring a lineup that can score in bunches — rallied.

Then, up by two runs in the final inning, England was in the pitching circle, hoping to make school history. She got that final strikeout to clinch the title.

“I was attacked pretty fast. Pure happiness,” England said. “I had to watch the video to see what I did because I didn’t remember what I did. Threw my glove down and I was hugged by about 10 or 15 people. It finally hit me that we had won.”

The celebration started. It would last for hours, and it would last for more than 200 miles.

Rest of All-Region softball team

Anna Aguon, Union

Video game numbers: The 4A GSHL co-player of the year went 43-69 (.623) with 6 HRs and 32 runs in 21 games

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Parker Boyd, Battle Ground

The strikeouts. The shutouts. The perfect games. Yes, plural. 4A GSHL co-player of the year was incredible.

Teagahn Cowles, Columbia River

Hit .647 with 10 HRs and 49 runs. Signed with Stanford.  Coach: “Grace under fire and cool confidence.”

Abby Fischer, Skyview

A hitting machine and great catcher. Sophomore had 8 HRs, 20 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 22 games played

Allie Hancock, Camas

Hit .397 with 17 RBIs and 18 runs in 22 games, plus she won her final five pitching decisions.

Irene McGuire, Prairie

First-team all-league third baseman hit .393 with 8 RBIs in the 9 league games. Also went to state all four years.

Megan Muffett, La Center

Batted .460 and drove in 52 runs for the state champs. Coach said she is best defensive catcher in school history.

Jessica Flanagan, Woodland

Capped a brilliant high school career with defensive player of the year honor (as a catcher) from the 2A GSHL.

Bridget Guiney, Prairie

All-league catcher going to Robert Morris University. A leader on and off the field, she went to state all four years.

Isabelle Parkin, Columbia River

Drove in 28 runs, helping Chieftains back to the state tourney. Coach: “She makes playing shortstop look easy.”

Alicen Smith, La Center

Batted .441 and scored team-hight 41 runs. She also showcased her speed and great arm from center field.

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Columbian High School Sports Reporter