The Ridgefield Spudders bounced back from an opening round loss to keep their season alive, and in the process, ended the season for a league rival.
Ridgefield shut out La Center 6-0 in an elimination game Wednesday at the Class 1A District 4 softball tournament in Centralia, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning to put away the game.
The Spudders will now have two games Saturday. If they win one, they will advance to the state tournament.
La Center was eliminated after losing 2-0 to Onalaska in the opening round and then to Ridgefield in the consolation bracket.
Karlee Kammer struck out five in her four-hit shutout for the Spudders against La Center.
Erin Bate was 3 for 3, including a two-run triple, to lead the Ridgefield offense. Kammer helped out, as well, driving in two runs with two hits.
Kiley Monson struck out 12 batters in a complete game, taking the loss for La Center.
Montesano shut out Ridgefield 8-0 in the tournament’s first round.
Ridgefield will play Hoquiam at 11 a.m. Saturday. The winner will advance to state, while the loser will play another game for the fifth and final berth to state.
Onalaska’s Haley Givens pitched a complete game one-hitter against La Center, recording 15 strikeouts, and also was 2 for 3 at the plate and drove in a run for the Loggers. She issued only one walk. Samantha Norris singled for the lone hit by the Wildcats.
“Onalaska was undefeated up there in their league,” La Center coach Randy Martinez said. “It was a tough game. They have a pretty good pitcher, but we have a good pitcher, too.”
Monson allowed three hits in six innings, striking out 10 with no walks.
In the process, she set a school record with 591 career strikeouts — but, as Martinez said, “We’re going home now.”
La Center started four freshmen, including three in the infield, Martinez said, giving the Wildcats a core returning group for next season. Monson and the other seniors “got us through” the season, he said.
“We got as much out of it as we could,” Martinez said of the season. “I’m happy with the kids, and I’m looking forward to next year.”
