Pitcher Abby England was dominant for La Center in 2016 and in the first three games of the state tournament. But her arm tired in the title game, so the Wildcats had to win it with their bats.
This is the story of La Center’s 1A state championship in 2016.
RICHLAND — For a while, it looked too easy.
Then it was tough. Really, really tough.
It takes a lot to win a state championship, though. Including faith.
“We knew we were going to get it the whole time and bring the title home to La Center,” senior Alicen Smith said.
Facing their first adversity — and deficit — of the tournament, the La Center softball team battled back to beat Montesano 9-7 to win the Class 1A state title Saturday afternoon at Columbia Playfield.
Smith’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Kaylie Faul with the go-ahead run, and the La Center defense stopped the Bulldogs in the seventh to secure the program’s first state championship.
Abby England, who was brilliant in the pitching circle in the first three games of the tournament — 36 strikeouts, two walks, no runs — endured a sore arm and some struggles in the title game. Still, she managed to strike out two in the seventh, including the final Montesano batter.
She was in tears after the game, thanking her teammates for having her back, thanking the seniors who will be leaving.
“They kept saying, ‘We got you. We got you. We believe in you.’ I’m going to miss those girls. I’m going to miss them a lot, their leadership. They were very reassuring they were there for me. It gave me confidence and strength to finish the game.”
La Center beat Deer Park 13-0 in the semifinals Saturday morning. That was after 7-0 and 10-0 wins in the first two rounds Friday.
Those victories gave La Center a 26-0 record, but Montesano was not going to allow the Wildcats to cruise to an undefeated season and title. La Center coach Randy Martinez said he told the Montesano coach that it means more to La Center to beat the Bulldogs because the Bulldogs are “the bar for 1A softball.”
The Bulldogs, in fact, twice had a chance to ruin La Center’s perfect season. They led La Center in the sixth inning of the district tournament a week ago before the Wildcats rallied.
On this day, La Center’s comeback came early.
Montesano had a five-run second inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Charlotte Royal got two back right away for the Wildcats with a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame.
“It was awesome. I didn’t even know it until I was going to second,” she said, unaware that the ball cleared the fence. “It was just crazy. Just to be able to do that, it’s insane.”
Montesano added a run in the third, but La Center scored three in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-6 lead.
Jessi Weaver had run-scoring singles in the first and third innings for La Center,
“For me to get an RBI, it takes someone else to be on the bases,” Weaver said. “It takes the team, not just me. I’m just glad I didn’t let anyone down.”
The Wildcats got a run on an error and then Kaylie Faul’s sacrifice fly put them up 7-6.
The Bulldogs tied it in the fifth inning, but left two runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for La Center to take command.
Faul’s single led off the inning. Royal sacrificed her to second, and Smith drove in Faul with a base hit. Smith would come home moments later on a single by Lilly Casey.
“The whole time leading up to that moment, I was in an adrenaline rush,” Casey said. “As soon as I hit that, everything was completely different. Right then I knew we’d get the state championship.”
England got a strikeout to open the seventh inning then walked a Bulldog. La Center shortstop Kayla Aguirre made a nice running catch into the outfield for the second out. Then England got her seventh strikeout of the game — 43rd of the tournament — to set up a celebration heard from Tri-Cities to Clark County.
“Fantastic feeling,” Weaver said. “Never played on a team like this before.”
“We all had so much faith in each other,” Smith said. “We know that anybody can accomplish what is needed to be done.”
Trailing by three runs. Trailing by two. Tied. Whatever.
“No matter who’s up, we know we’re going to hit the run in,” Smith said. “We left no double on the field.”
Written by Paul Valencia, The Columbian, May 29, 2016
