All-Region slowpitch softball: Taylor Lies, Skyview

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.

Hailee Corona, Columbia River: Junior earned 3A/2A GSHL Defensive POY honors for district champion, state-qualifying Rapids team. Batted .506 with nine doubles and three home runs.

Nivayah Henry, Skyview: Junior batted .618 with seven home runs and 25 RBI. Named the 4A GSHL Offensive POY.

Madi Johnson, Skyview: Senior batted .603 with one home run and 25 RBI for district champion, state-qualifying Storm team.

Ruby Lew, Columbia River: Junior batted .536 with five doubles and five home runs. Also had a .950 fielding percentage.

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