Royal finishes a solid third

Kettle Falls takes first at 1A state softball tournament

It wasn't the moment they wanted, but they took it anyway.

As Royal's softball team finished its 2-0 victory over White Pass for third place at the 1A state softball tournament, they knew the state championship game should have been theirs. But, a 4-2 loss to Kettle Falls in the quarterfinals eliminated the Knights' ability to bring home the top trophy.

"We know that we should have been there, but you can't come back and change that," Royal coach Bill Barker said.

Royal's Robyn Verhey became the workhorse, pitching a total of 21 innings out of 35 possible in the tournament. She filled in for Kali Delgado in the first game against Seattle Christian after Delgado went down with a knee injury at the start of the sixth inning.

Verhey held Toutle Lake scoreless on a two-hitter with five strike outs. She came in on relief for Ashley Baker in the third inning against Kettle Falls down 4-0 and held the future state champions scoreless and hitless for the final five innings of work.

Against Cedar Park Christian, Verhey pitched a complete game shutout to put Royal into the consolation finals against White Pass. In the final game, Barker went with Baker on the mound over his senior brick wall.

"She was tired and I am not going to jeopardize an arm and she was ready to go in relief," Barker said. She was a tremendous uplift for our kids and kept us in every game she pitched."

Against White Pass in the final game, Baker pitched a complete game three-hitter for the third place victory. A different performance from her two innings and four runs allowed against Kettle Falls.

Baker said she was shaky at the start of the game because of her rocky start against Kettle Falls, but settled down with four strike outs in the game.

Barker said placing at state was an accomplishment he would take and losing to the eventual state champions was fine with him, but he did wish his team he had through the season and district tournament had shown up to bat at the state tournament.

The Knights were held to 28 hits on 129 total at bats in the tournament and scored a total of 17 runs.

"I think because we haven't seen that quick of pitching," starting catcher Faye Wagner said about the hitting performance by the Knights.

Wagner added that defense stayed sharp, allowing just six runs on 17 hits. Against Kettle Falls, Royal gave up all four runs in the second inning, with three of the four runs unearned off errors by the Knights' defense.

"Good defense," Wagner added, "just a couple errors and they get to you every time."

Barker said the season was a success and placing at state was a good way to finish it.

"It has been a great season and we have accomplished a lot of things," Barker added.