At the urging of her parents, Taylor Lies joined Skyview’s slowpitch softball team as a way to stay sharp for the spring fastpitch season.
Lies, then a freshman, soon discovered “slow” was the operative word in the sport.
“It was good, it was just really different,” Lies recalled. “I didn’t expect it to be as slow, and a lot of people are new, coming to play slowpitch, people who don’t play fastpitch. … I got really frustrated in the beginning because I thought it was going to be like fastpitch and it wasn’t at all.
“I just kept with it. I was like, it’s fun, it’s just a fun thing.”
Two years later, the Storm are thankful that Lies, The Columbian’s All-Region slowpitch softball player of the year, stuck with the sport.
Whether it was at the plate — where Lies served as the team’s leadoff hitter — or as a utility player in the field, the junior emerged as the most reliable player on a Skyview team that captured the Class 4A District 4 championship against rival Union and reached the 4A state tournament in Yakima for a second consecutive season this fall.
“She’s that one kid when we look in the lineup and I’d be like, who’s next? And I would see Taylor’s name,” Skyview coach Amy Young said. “… There’s a sense of relief because I know she’s going to get jobs done.”
Coaches and teammates feel a sense of security having a player like Lies on their team because they can always count on her to deliver. That’s especially important in a sport like slowpitch softball where some players are new to the sport.
But according to Lies, newcomers and veterans alike came together this season with a newfound energy to push Skyview over the top. The Storm lost just once in the regular season, swept Union in a best-of-three district championship series and finished the season with an 18-3 record.
“When we brought the energy and everyone came together, everyone hit the ball no matter where they were in the lineup,” Lies said.
The district championship, in particular, was the perfect example of Skyview’s growth. With only one team advancing to state from the district, the Storm had extra motivation to win for their six seniors. The Storm fought back from deficits in both games to defeat a Titans team that had their number in years past.
“Everyone came together at the end and we really wanted it,” Lies said.
Lies drove in the winning run with a single in game two, one of many clutch hits the junior delivered throughout the season.
What really set the left-handed hitter apart, according to Young, was her adaptability at the plate — understanding what each situation called for and executing them to near perfection. With a .595 batting average, Lies was one of seven Skyview players who hit above .500 on the season.
“Those are very high-level decisions to be making at a high school level,” Young said. “Just to be like, a line drive will do, or, I really need to hit the ball this time. … Having those thoughts is amazing. Being able to have the thoughts and execute them just kind of shows the level she’s at as a player.”
Lies’ softball intangibles also extend to the field where she’s utilized as the team’s 10th fielder, also known as a “rover,” who can play as a deep infielder or fourth outfielder.
“I really like it because … when I’m on the field I’m a ball hog,” Lies said. “That position gets a lot of balls (hit) there, and I can just move. I’ll read the hitters, like, last at-bat, she hit one deep to the fence so I’m gonna scoot back, or, she hits up the middle, so I’m gonna play behind second base.”
Skyview went 1-2 at the 4A state tournament, one win shy of the placing round. Still, it was a valuable experience that Lies and the Storm plan to learn from going into next season, particularly for younger players who are still finding their groove at the high school level.
To help ease that transition, Lies has made a point of taking underclassmen under her wing, throwing with them and being a trusted voice they can turn to in the dugout. Bridging the gap between older and younger players is her way of paying it forward for the program.
“I would say I lean toward the younger kids because I know I was in their place once,” Lies said. “My freshman year, I feel like all the seniors and upperclassmen were in a group. I was just kind of with the other freshmen, we were just like, what are we doing playing slowpitch?
“So, just making it fun (for them), because we need more girls to come back next year. Our team is going to be good next year again.”
Rest of the All-Region Team
Malia Byrnes, R.A. Long: Junior batted .721 with 15 doubles and 35 RBI to earn Offensive POY honors in 3A/2A GSHL. Also pitched 70 innings for Lumberjills.
Keira McGinley, Mark Morris: The junior batted .582 with eight home runs and 41 RBI for the Monarchs, who reached the 2A district semifinals.
Karmynn Petrisor, Kelso: Junior 3A/2A GSHL MVP led the Hilanders to runner-up finish at district championship and state tournament appearance. Batted .500 with 24 hits.
Ava Pratoussy, Columbia River: Sophomore batted .521 with 38 hits, including eight doubles for the Rapids.
Sophia Rickard, Union: Junior batted .589 with 10 doubles, four triples, one home run and team-high 27 RBI for the Titans.
Victoria Ross, Union: Junior 4A GSHL Defensive POY pitched 95 innings for the Titans, also batted .395 with six doubles and 19 RBI.
Lily Wilkinson, Camas: Junior outfielder was an all-4A GSHL first team selection for the Papermakers
