Sixth-inning rally sends Warden to district semis
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden outfielder Leanne Martinez extends to make the catch against Naches Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden's Aaliyah Escamilla slides in safely to third base.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden's Alexia Hernandez slides into home plate and scores against Naches Valley.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden's Ashlyn Yamane dives back to reach third base safely.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden outfielder Leanne Martinez raises her arms in triumph after she catches the final out against Naches Valley.
WARDEN — Ashlyn Yamane said she probably should have slid when she scored the game-tying run, but it counted all the same.
Yamane beat out a throw to home plate on a short dribbler by Amanda Contreras to tie Warden’s district tournament opener with Naches Valley 5-5 in the sixth inning. The Cougars added two more runs in its sixth-inning rally to hold off the No. 4 seed in title only Rangers 7-6.
“I just had to run,” Yamane said. “I just had to get there, so once I saw it come off the bat you just have to go.”
Warden looked to have the game in control, holding a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning. However, Naches Valley, who was under-seeded due to missed time from key players throughout the season, struck for five runs in the top half of the frame,
As if needing a little push, Warden promptly loaded the bases in the home half of the sixth with no outs. Contreras drove in Yamane to tie the game and Bailey Whitney scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Lexy Gonzalez drove an RBI single up the third-base line, which proved to be crucial.
“I was proud of the way the girls battled back after being kind of hit in the mouth a little bit,” head coach Wes Richins said. “Scored five runs in the sixth inning, go down by one, kind of makes you see what you’re made out of then.”
Warden starter Jizelle Pruneda hummed through the first five innings before the Naches Valley bats began to time her up. To Pruneda’s credit, she shook off the five-run sixth inning and a lead-off home run in the seventh to retire the next three batters and end the game.
“She is a great pitcher,” Yamane said. “She stays calm and collected the whole time. I give her major props to that. It’s something to look up to, I think, even if you’re not a pitcher, just as a teammate.”
Score by innings
NV — 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 6
W — 2 0 1 1 0 3 X 7
Other Basin scores
Ellensburg 2, Ephrata 0
Ephrata 7, East Valley 5