The Columbia High Bruins concluded their WIAA Class 1A Trico League softball season by finishing in third place and qualifying for the District 4 playoffs.
The No. 20-ranked Bruins will play the Elma High Eagles (6-2 Evergreen League, 13-5 overall) in a first-round noon contest May 15 in the eight-team, double-elimination tourney at Fort Borst Park in Centralia. The Bruins will follow with a 4 p.m. contest that same day against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. If the Bruins win one of the two contests, they’ll qualify for day two of the tournament on May 18. The top-three teams from the tourney will advance to the state playoffs beginning May 22.
The other teams at the tourney include the No. 1-ranked Evergreen League Champion Montesano High Bulldogs (18-3 overall), the Hoquiam High Grizzlies (7-13), and the Eatonville High Cruisers, who are all Evergreen League squads. The Trico League champion and No. 14-ranked Seton Catholic Cougars (15-4), La Center and the Castle Rock High Rockets (7-12) are also in the tourney.
The Bruins (10-5 league, 12-8 overall) ended the regular season with three straight road losses May 7 to the La Center High Wildcats (12-3 league, 15-5 overall). The two rivals had a marathon type of schedule with three games in one day. The Wildcats swept all three, winning 6-5, 9-5 and 3-2 at La Center High School.
“I like our chances for sure in the playoffs, and it was just weird playing three games in one day with La Center, which was very interesting,” said Coach Jesse Bryan. “La Center is a very beatable team; they were all close games, and we could’ve won all three games.
“The girls are excited to be in the playoffs and we’re in a good spot in the bracket with our first game against Elma. We’ll go on from there and see what happens in the second game. Hopefully if we can win one game, then we’ll play again Saturday.”
The Bruins reached the state softball playoffs for the first time in school history last season.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament for sure and we’ll do our best to try and make a run,” said Bryan. “We’re hoping to get third place and qualify for state.”
In the Game 1, one-run loss at La Center, the Wildcats scored the winning run in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Bruins’ junior pitcher Josie Dickey allowed 10 hits, with three strikeouts and five walks. The Bruins had four hits with Dickey (2-for-2), sophomore Halle Kock (1-for-3, RBI,) and freshman Julia Mullinix (1-for-3, RBI) leading their offense.
In the 9-5 loss, the Bruins outhit the Wildcats 9-8, but they trailed for the entire contest. The Bruins committed five errors. The Bruins’ pitching duo of starter Danica Herman and reliever Lola Marti combined for nine strikeouts, two walks and six earned runs allowed.
The Bruins were led offensively by Dickey (2-for-4, three RBI), Joella Posini (1-for-4, RBI) and Madison Russum (1-for-3). Mullinix (1-for-2), Kiera Bucher (1-for-3) and Kiki Barkhimer (1-for-4) also contributed to the Bruins offense.
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