Zillah wrecks Warden's plans
Warden's Jennifer Kottong delivers a pitch during the second round of the consolation tournament against Zillah Saturday at Paul Lauzier Complex in Moses Lake.<br>Brad Redford/Columbia Basin Herald
Cougars score four runs in seventh before falling prey to Leopards
MOSES LAKE — After hoisting the SCAC district title last week, Warden left the 1A state softball tournament empty handed after losing two of their three games played.
The Cougars picked up a win in their opener with Winlock, but then fell to Seattle Christian Friday night and Zillah Saturday morning to be sent home. Warden did manage four runs against the Leopards in the bottom of the seventh inning, but ran out of momentum in an 8-6 loss.
"We tried to rally at the end," said Warden head coach Wes Richins. "We had an opportunity and we had some gutsy kids who didn't give up."
Jennifer Kottong started strong for the Cougars with an opening strike out on Zillah's Adrianna Mendoza, but her defense gave the Leopards an opportunity when Lacey Wentz reached on a throwing error. Yesenia Campos followed by blasting a triple through the gap in right field to score Wentz. Amanda Hill hit a sacrifice fly ball to left to score Campos for the early 2-0 lead.
Warden responded in the bottom of the first with Amanda Martin singling to right and stealing second base. Martin later scored on a throwing error, but the Cougars left bases loaded when Ceira Pruneda's grounder between first and second hit courtesy runner Kim Yamamoto to end the inning trailing 2-1.
The Cougars' problems were compounded in the fourth inning after Gentry Affholter reached base when Ashton Stott couldn't hold onto a throw from Kottong, Alyssa Fink reached on a walk and a Chelsea Goudie walk loaded the bases for Joy Myers. Myers responded with a triple that cleared the bases and when the relay throw to third left the ball field, scored the fourth run of the inning to take a 6-1 lead.
Pruneda drove in Jennifer Whitaker in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 6-2, but the Leopards added runs in the fifth and seventh to take an 8-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Pruneda and Stott started the inning with singles and Kat Martin drove in two runs on a fielder's choice. Sierra Kisler followed with a strike out, but reached on a passed ball that sent her all the way to second base. T.J. Mora finished the scoring with a two-run single to right field.
"We are battling through some injuries and that takes its toll," Richins added.