Falcon fastpitch does well at state
Published 8:00 am Wednesday, May 30, 2001
“How high can these Falcons soar?A lot higher, according to South Whidbey fastpitch coach Renee Christian.Her young team returned Saturday from its first-ever appearance in the state 2A tournament after winning one game and pushing a tournament favorite to the limit before succumbing.It was an astounding performance for a team that just two years ago didn’t win a game. Last year, the Falcons made their first district tournament appearance. And this year they went to the state classic in Wenatchee. Better yet, they lose only two seniors to graduation (Shannon Murphy and Melissa Schultz), their replacements are already penciled in, and a great looking crop of young freshmen will rise to the high school ranks next fall.Christian couldn’t be more pleased with her young team’s performance at state. They did an excellent job. They were really, really good, she said.The opening game against Ridgefield, a top seed, was an epic. Falcon sophomore pitcher Ashley Lopez shut the opposition down for 6 and two-thirds inning before the game’s only run scored on a screwball that eluded South Whidbey’s catcher.Ashley pitched a beautiful game. She was totally on, Christian said. Ridgefield was desperate in the seventh. A runner hadn’t reached second base the entire game, so when the lead-off hitter reached first on a single they bunted twice, giving up two outs to get her to third. Only the errant screwball allowed them to score and they were lucky to escape with a 1-0 win.Ridgefield’s outstanding pitcher gave up three hits, to Bronwyn Russell, Jenny Murphy and Val Mock. South Whidbey’s best chance to score came in the fourth when with runners on first and second Julie Robinson smoked a screamer that was somehow snared by the Ridgefield defense.Game two sent the Falcons into the consolation bracket against Cascade of Leavenworth, which had lost its opener 13-2 to Foster. The Falcons dispatched Cascade with ease, winning 8-3. Nici Eaton pitched 3 1/2 innings and Lucy Daumen finished the game.The Falcons scored four runs in the second inning and four in the sixth. The early dominance allowed coach Christian to rest Lopez for the third game. The Falcon offense against Cascade was led by Keasha Campbell with a triple, Bronwyn Russell who was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Julie Robinson, 1 for 3 with 2 RBI.Their third game Friday came against North Cascades Conference rival Nooksack Valley, with whom the Falcons had split two league games this year. But this time the Pioneers prevailed 5-1.Lopez was called on to pitch her second game of the day and struggled to get loose. Nooksack scored 3 in the first inning and 2 in the second but none the rest of the way. The Falcons also made a few early errors, a very rare occurrence. They just hadn’t settled down yet, Christian said. Lopez and the defense did settle down, but the offense couldn’t overcome the early deficit. Russell went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the effort.The Falcons came hope knowing they can play with the best in the state and that they’ll have a chance to come back next year. The 2A tournament was won by Montesano which beat Ridgefield in the championship game.Washougal was third, Nooksack fourth and Lynden Christian fifth. “
