The Dalles softball team posted seven hits and received seven walks, but stranded 11 runners on base and allowed four unearned runs off of five errors in a 4-3 OSAA/U.S. Bank/Les Schwab Tires state softball play-in game to Sandy at 16th Street Ballpark.
The Pioneers fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, but scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the sixth inning on two hits and an error.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Riverhawks used a one-out walk by Sierra Watson and a single by Jodi Thomasian to put the tying and winning runs on base.
Sandy pitcher Audrey Seipert settled in with a strikeout and popout to preserve the Pioneer win.
“We played our hearts out. We wanted this more than anything, but we just couldn’t get the plays to go our way,” said Maddy Bradford. “I know that we all wanted this game badly. It taught us that we need to play hard all the way through because you never know when it can be taken from you.”
The Dalles got the jump on Sandy in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Ruthie Ford and a steal of home by Hannah Harris to make it 2-0.
Bradford made the lead hold up until the top of the fourth when Sandy scored an unearned run on a fielder’s choice.
Kailin Hoylman scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Harris to move TD in front, 3-1.
The Hawks had a chance to add to their lead with two runners on base, but an inning-ending strikeout cut the threat short.
Sandy would take advantage of that missed opportunity with a pair of unearned runs to tie the score at 3-apiece.
“We played hard and we did our best, but sometimes when you give it your all, you are going to lose,” said senior infielder Morgan Goslin. “It still doesn’t take away from what we did this season. We accomplished so much and our young girls really played well. I know they will come back next year and kick butt.”
Harris had two hits, a walk, a run and an RBI, Goslin went 2 for 4 and Bradford was issued three walks.
Ford, Thomasian and Hoylman each had hits, and Watson went 0 for 2 with a walk and a hit by a pitch.
“We gave ourselves every chance to win this game, but when you boot the ball around and leave runners on base, you are leaving the door open for the opposing team to steal a win,” said TD head coach Steve Garrett. “There is a learning lesson in all of this. I am hoping this team can put this loss behind them and build for next season.”
Bradford tossed a complete-game seven-hitter with two strikeouts and three walks for the loss.
The Dalles started 11-5 through the first month and a half of the regular season and at one point, boasted the state’s best scoring offense.
With a roster of eight underclassmen and a core of juniors led by Bradford, Ford, Harris and Lori Cimmiyotti, The Dalles will look to get back to its winning ways.
There is all-league talent throughout the roster to make that goal a reality.
“This loss is giving me the drive to take a few extra cuts and work on my game even more so I can come back stronger next year,” said Thomasian, a freshman. “I know this loss will bring us closer. Almost all of us will be back and we want to play our best to win more games.”
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