WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High Bruins finished a successful WIAA Class 1A softball season by advancing to the District 4 playoffs May 14-17 in Centralia after finishing second place in the Trico League.
The Bruins (10-4 Trico, 10-8 overall) won their final two Trico games over the Stevenson High Bulldogs (6-8 Trico, 9-10 overall) to give them second place in the eight-team league standings behind Seton Catholic (14-0 Trico, 18-3). The Bruins won a May 6, road game, 10-7, over the Bulldogs, followed by a May 8, 12-5, home win in White Salmon, which provided them with some momentum for the playoffs.
The Bruins, guided by Coach Jesse Bryan, were unable to extend their win streak as they lost both games in the double-elimination district tournament to conclude the 2025 season. In a May 14 doubleheader, the Bruins lost their opening playoff game, 11-5, to the Hoquiam High Grizzlies (6-16), followed by a 16-9 loss to the Nooksack Valley High Pioneers (16-10).
“This year was better than last year and next year will be even better,” said Bryan. “The District 4 tournament is chalked full of top teams from in the state. Just to get to state this year would have been quite an accomplishment.”
In the matchup against Hoquiam, the Bruins fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. After two scoreless frames, the Grizzlies then extended their advantage to 9-0 in the top of the fourth.
The Bruins were outhit by the Grizzlies 12-8. The Bruins were led offensively by Fionna Grabb (two RBI), Halle Kock (1-for-4, RBI), Julia Mullinix (2-for-4, RBI) and Kiera Bucher (1-for-3, RBI). The duo of starter Danica Herman and reliever Josie Dickey combined in the pitching circle for four strikeouts, three walks and nine earned runs.
In their must-win Game 2, the Bruins built a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning. The Pioneers responded with a two-run rally in the bottom of the second for a 3-2 advantage. The Bruins then answered by scoring a run in the third, knotting it 3-3. The Pioneers then took control of the game with a seven-run offensive spurt in the bottom of the third.
The Bruins were outhit, 17-11, by the Pioneers. Columbia was led offensively by Kock (2-for-2, two RBI), Grabb (2-for-4, RBI), Joella Posini (2-for-2, four RBI) and Grace Kennedy (RBI). The trio of pitchers Gabby Hogue, Herman and Lola Marti combined in the circle for five strikeouts and eight walks. For seniors Dickey and Kennedy, the contest marked the conclusion of their Columbia High softball careers.
“Josie and Grace are great people who put a lot of work in to help our team over the last four years,” said Bryan. “Both of them are going on to do great things. Josie is going to WSU and Grace will be attending Gonzaga. It’s always tough to lose seniors.”
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