Tigers cruise past Titans, clinch spot in district title game
May 15-Box Score
At Fort Borst Park
TIGERS 12, TITANS 2 (5 inn.)
Pe Ell/WV 000 20 - 2
Napavine 341 4X - 12
PWV Highlights - Magruder 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, R; Hodel 2-3, 2 2B; Sipp 2-2, BB, R.
NAP Pitching - Lyons 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 2 K. Highlights - Kaut 3-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R; Kirkpatrick 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R; H. Fay 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R; Lyons 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R.
Even with a double-digit lead, Napavine coach Josh Fay knew that the Tigers couldn't get complacent against Pe Ell/Willapa Valley. In the fifth inning, the Titans were threatening to get back into the game, as they had the bases loaded with just one out.
Hayden Kaut convened the infield around pitcher Dakota Lyons, who took a moment before stepping back on the rubber.
One pitch later, Lyons snagged a one-hopper right back at her, and she fired home to start a 1-2-3 double play that sealed Napavine's 12-2 victory in 2B District 4 Semifinal.
"That was a really good heads-up play," Fay said. "What a way to finish that thing. Because if you don't, (PWV) is capable of putting up 10 runs the next inning."
The win sends Napavine back to the state tournament for the second year in a row, and it puts them back in the district title game for the first time since 2018.
It took just four at-bats for the Tigers to take control, as Hayden Kaut drilled a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Hannah Fay hit a three-run home run of her own an inning later, Macie Brevard added an RBI single, and Lyla Kirkpatrick cleared the wall with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third.
Kirkpatrick also hit two home runs in Napavine's quarterfinal win earlier in the day, a 26-8 victory over Raymond/South Bend.
In that win, Lyons hit a home run and drove in four runs, Macie Brevard collected four hits and six RBIs, and Clara Fay and Taylen Evander combined to drive in five runs.
"I really liked the way our kids came to the plate today," Josh Fay said. "We hit a lot of balls really hard. We've really spent a lot of time talking about how we step into the batter's box and what we do, because we've got a lot of good hitters."
Ruby Magruder hit a two-run home run in the fourth to get the Titans on the board, but that was the only PWV hit of the game that drove in runs. By the end of the afternoon, the Titans had stranded nine runners on base.
"Napavine came and out-hit us," PWV coach Eric Hopfer said. "They strung it all together, which we couldn't do ... We just couldn't keep executing."
In the bottom of the fourth, Napavine kept inching closer towards a lead that would put the run-rule into play. Clara Fay hit an RBI single and Kirkpatrick hit an RBI double, and with two outs, Lyons hit a two-run double to put Napavine up 10.
With each hit, the cheers from the Napavine dugout grew louder and louder.
"I think these guys have a hard time understanding that you can play this game with intensity, and today I thought we did that," Josh Fay said. "Our dugout was active, our kids on the field were vocal ... We stayed engaged, and I just really liked our intensity and our approach from the dugout, on the field, and at the plate."
The PWV offense had much more success in its quarterfinal earlier in the day on Friday, a 14-9 victory over Rainier.
Lauren Matlock hit two home runs and drove in five runs in that win, and Layla Andrews collected three hits and drove in a run. Jillian Hodel added two hits, including a double, and scored twice, and Tylar Keeton added a double and an RBI while scoring two runs of her own.
Hopfer also gave credit to his pitchers from the quarterfinals, Eliza Barnum and Magruder, for battling through a rain storm that swept through Centralia in the middle of the 2B District 4 quarters.
"I was proud that Eliza kept the walks to a minimum in that game," Hopfer said. "And Ruby came in and did an excellent job. It's hard for all the teams that play in that. It's hard for the pitchers, and it's hard to stay focused."
PWV (17-6) will have two chances to clinch a state berth on Saturday, starting with a 9 a.m. matchup against Forks. The beat the Spartans 14-1 and 10-8 in the two regular season matchups between the two teams.
A win would have put PWV in the 5 p.m. district title game, but instead, it'll be an early morning.
"We just gotta stay focused on the morning," Hopfer said. "Today, I said pregame, 'you're either sleeping in, or you're getting up early.' The bus leaves at 6:15 tomorrow."
Napavine (18-2) will play in that 5 p.m. title game, as the Tigers are making their first trip to the championship game since they won it in 2018. They will face Toledo, who they beat 9-8 and 12-10 in two regular season meetings.
"Love playing those guys," Josh Fay said. "I know we've got a lot for them, and I know they've got a lot of respect for us, so it'll be a good game. There's gonna be a lot of good players on the field, and it'll be a different look in the district title game. We're excited to be there, but our goal is to hopefully have a big trophy tomorrow."
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