Warden softball team advances to District 6 2B championship

EPHRATA — Down in Pullman when Washington State “Cougs It,” it usually means things went south in a hurry. But the Warden softball team has given that expression a whole new meaning this season.

When the Warden Cougars “Coug It” it adds up to notches in the win column. In fact, they “Couged It” 20 times during the regular season and a couple more times on Saturday at the District 6 2B Tournament in Ephrata. Warden beat Oroville 11-1 five innings in the first game.

They beat Okanogan 10-0 in the second. They even beat the rain, closing out Bulldogs by the 10-run rule in the sixth inning as the clouds that hovered about all day let loose with a steady drizzle. Warden (22-0) will face Kittitas for the district championship on Saturday. Both have already qualified for the 2B state tournament. All in all, it was a sound performance for the Warden Cougars, who allowed just one run in two games.

“We’re really concentrating on playing better in the playoffs. I was a little worried how we’d come out today with all the hype of a 20-0 regular season, because we do have a big target on our back,” Warden coach Wes Richins said. “I was proud of how the girls came out and took care of business.”

They got another big pitching performance from Aaliyah Enriquez, who’s headed to Wenatchee Community College next year. The senior right-hander struck out five of the first six batters faced in the second game, finishing with 10 strikeouts, walking one and allowing just one hit. It wasn’t dominating, but it was solid and the Cougars played solid defense behind her.

“Overall, I was really hitting my spots well today,” Enriquez said. “I like to start ahead with strikes in the zone, then see if I can’t make them chase something. I just throw three pitches, but I depend a lot on my rise ball. I’m very good at changing up the speeds.” She had the Okanogan hitters off balance all day long. Where it took the Cougars four innings to turn up offense in the first game, they were on the Bulldogs from the first pitch. Three runs in first inning set the tone, four more in the fourth and three in the sixth and it was over.

“I think we were able to focus more and play our game as the day went on. We were able to get our bats going and take it step-by-step,” shortstop Jizelle Pruneda said. “It really helps when we get out fast like we did against Okanogan. It’s pretty cool representing Warden at state, because we have a lot of softball tradition.”

The Cougars got a lot of production from the top half of the order in the second game with the first three batters producing a combined 9-for-11. Brenna Whitney went 3-for-3 and scored twice out of the lead-off spot. Bailey Whitney scored twice, going 3-for-4 in the two slot. Allycia Gonzales was also 3-for-4.