Clatskanie softball beats Monroe/Alsea to advance to state semifinals
CLATSKANIE - Clatskanie softball survived a rally from Monroe/Alsea and beat the Dragons 10-8 in the second round of the OSAA 2A/1A Softball State Championship tournament on Wednesday at home. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the state semifinals.
Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help
Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News.
Clatskanie led 8-3 after four innings, but Monroe/Alsea scored 3 in the fifth inning and 2 in the sixth while keeping the Tigers scoreless to tie the game at 8-8. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Olivia George hit a lead-off double and then Kayden Byrum smashed a walk-off 2-run home run to win it for the Tigers and send them to the quarterfinals.
"I started tearing up rounding the bases just because I was so happy," Byrum said. "I just couldn't believe it,"
Clatskanie softball: Kayden Byrum
Clatskanie's Kayden Byrum smiles after she hits a home run during the second round of the OSAA 2A/1A Softball State Championship tournament against Monroe/Alsea on Wednesday, May 27, at Clatskanie High School. Byrum also hit the game-winning walk-off homer to send Clatskanie to the quarterfinals.
Senior Joey Sizemore described her feeling in that moment as well.
"Absolute chills, that's all I can say," she said.
Clatskanie held a comfortable lead through the first three innings. Sizemore hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first to start the scoring off for the Tigers. She then came home shortly after on a passed ball. In the bottom of the second, Sizemore hit an RBI triple following a double from McKinsey Doyle, and then Byrum launched a solo home run in the third to put Clatskanie up 4-0.
"Kayden Byrum, all caps," Clatskanie coach Teauna Hughes said. "She's had the power all four years, we're just finding it. She goes up there with confidence, you can see that she's relaxed, and she's being clutch for us right now."
Monroe/Alsea scored 3 runs in the top of the fourth to pull within 1. The Tigers countered with 4 runs in the bottom of the frame to push the lead up to 5. Doyle hit an RBI triple, Sizemore notched an RBI double and then stole third and scored on an error, and George hit a solo home run.
Clatskanie softball: Olivia George
Clatskanie's Olivia George swings her bat during the second round of the OSAA 2A/1A Softball State Championship tournament against Monroe/Alsea on Wednesday, May 27, at Clatskanie High School. George finished with two hits, including a home run, and one RBI.
Every time the Dragons made a push, the Tigers were there to counter it. Hughes said it was the team's comradery that helped them through the difficult moments in the game.
"We'll have some off days on defense, but we rely on the next girl to help pick them up, so that's what we did" she said. "I tell them if you have to sprint across the field and go pick her up, you do that, and it happened."
Sizemore struck out 15 batters in all seven innings of work in the circle, but she walked eight and hit two by pitch while giving away four hits and 5 earned runs. Even when she wasn't playing her best and the Dragons were making a run, Sizemore kept her composure.
"All I can do is take a deep breath and keep doing what I can do," she said. "I can't control anything in the past, I can just control what I can do right now. I was just more focused on the next pitch."
Clatskanie softball: Joey Sizemore
Clatskanie's Joey Sizemore throws a pitch during the second round of the OSAA 2A/1A Softball State Championship tournament against Monroe/Alsea on Wednesday, May 27, at Clatskanie High School. Sizemore struck out 15 batters and finished with three hits, including a triple and a double, and three RBIs.
Hughes said she was determined to keep Sizemore in the circle despite some of her struggles.
"I'll ride her until she graduates," she said.
Stay up to date on Lower Columbia news, wherever you go
Access the latest Lower Columbia news in The Daily News app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.
No. 8 Clatskanie (18-8) will face off against No. 16 Country Christian/North Clackamas Christian - who beat No. 1 Kennedy 16-7 on Wednesday - at 5 p.m. on Friday at home.
"We gotta play with the same energy that we brought today," Sizemore said.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 4:33 AM.