Luke Roth (Mid-Major Media) special to BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Softball / Roundup

Tigers race by Gaston to repeat as league champs

The Clatskanie softball team left no doubt last week.

The Tigers swept Gaston in resounding fashion, winning all three games by run rule to secure back-2-back 2A / 1A Special District 1 championships, continuing to build momentum ahead of the state playoffs.

Clatskanie opened the series Tuesday with a 14-0 win in five innings, then followed it with two more dominant performances Friday, beating the Greyhounds 21-1 in four innings and 15-0 in three innings.

Across the three-game sweep, the Tigers outscored Gaston 50-1, and the series started with one of Clatskanie’s most complete performances of the season.

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3A Prep Softball / Report

LASSIE BEACH – The Kelso softball team had plenty to play for in their final home game of the season and made sure to make the most of the opportunity. With first place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League on the line the Lassies posted a 9-0 shutout over Heritage on Senior Night to cap the regular season.

The victory, plus a win for Prairie over Evergreen, left the Lassies and Falcons all knotted up at the top of the 3A GSHL standings and set up a tiebreaker prior to the start of the district tournament. But that’s all to be sorted out on another day. On Monday, Kelso was focused entirely on giving the home fans at Lassie Beach as many opportunities to cheer as possible.

“We scored all of our runs in the first two innings,” Kelso head coach Dean Sorensen said. “They threw three different pitchers at us and the girls just kept hitting… It was a nice win for our three seniors!”

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Matt Baide for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

WIAA Prep Softball / Roundup

The 3A Report

Kelso neck-and-neck with Prairie for league title

The Lassies enter the final week of their regular season locked in a tie for first place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League.

Kelso won 14-0 at Mountain View last Tuesday, May 5 in Vancouver, but lost 8-2 to a strong 1A Montesano ball club on Thursday at home on Lassie Beach.

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Luke Roth (Mid-Major Media) special to BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Prep Softball / Roundup

Tigers take bragging rights in County Line Clash

The No. 6 Clatskanie softball team took another major step forward last week in its quest for back-to-back Special District 1 titles, winning its three-game series against Knappa.

The Tigers opened the week with a 6-4 home win Tuesday, then claimed the series Friday with a 15-8 victory in game one of a doubleheader.

No. 14 Knappa (10-7) avoided the sweep in the finale, edging Clatskanie 10-9, in walk-off fashion.

With the series win Clatskanie (14-6, 8-2 league), ranked No. 7 by Mid-Major Media and No. 10 in the OSAA state rankings, has a chance to clinch the league title this week. All it would take for the Tigers to keep their crown is to turn in a sweep of No. 28 ranked Gaston (5-15).

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Matt Baide for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

WIAA Prep Softball / Roundup

The 3A Report

Lassies deadlocked at the top of league standings

Kelso won 15-4 against Heritage last Monday, April 27 in Vancouver, defeated Evergreen 2-0 at home on Wednesday, and then won again by a score of 3-2 at Prairie on Friday in Brush Prairie.

Those victories left the Lassies knotted with Prairie for first place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League play entering the final week of the regular season.

“We came out hitting the ball well and made some plays in the field,” Kelso head coach Dean Sorensen said following the victory at Heritage.

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

2A Prep Softball / Report

THE LUMBERJILL YARD — Following a fast start at the plate, the Woodland softball team didn’t let up at the plate, Friday, in a 2A Greater St. Helens League battle at R.A. Long. The Beavers utilized a relentless offensive approach to outlast the Jills 16-11 win at The Lumberjill Yard.

So what exactly was working for Woodland at the plate? And what were the Beavers seeing in the box?

“Definitely a lot of high and inside pitches, and those are my perfect pitch,” Woodland’s Madison Walker said. “I was just driving them every time.”

Walker, who went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored to help lead the Beavers, said the difference came down to approach rather than trying to do too much at the plate.

“When we went up there just trying to hit it down instead of swinging for a home run, we ended up driving in a lot of runs,” she said.

Woodland head coach Tom Christensen said that aggressiveness has been a point of emphasis for his team this spring.

“Aggressiveness and being ready at the plate,” Christensen said. “That’s something we’ve talked about—having a ‘yes, yes, yes’ approach and being ready every pitch.”

Coming off an 11-run win in their previous outing, the hometown Lumberjills were able to stay in the ballgame all the way down to the wire. After being run-ruled in their previous meeting, R.A. Long showed clear improvement this time around, matching Woodland’s offense and refusing to let the game get out of hand early.

“We made some mistakes, but we didn’t let them get us down,” R.A. Long head coach Jim Van Fleet said. “It didn’t create momentum for them like it has before, and that made a difference.”

The victory for Woodland left the Beavers with a one-game lead over R.A. Long in the league standings as the regular season grows short.

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Prep Softball / Report

CLATSKANIE — The Clatskanie softball team didn’t panic after giving up an early lead in the County Line Clash, answering Knappa’s second-inning surge with a decisive third inning and capitalizing on patience at the plate to hold off the Loggers for a 6-4 win Tuesday in an OSAA 2A Northwest League matchup in Clatskanie.

So what, exactly, were the Tigers seeing out there?

“A lot of balls,” Joey Sizemore said. “I’m always ready for them to make a mistake, but I’m also taking what they give me.”

Clatskanie head coach Teauna Hughes said that approach has been consistent for her team this season.

“We’re just a patient team,” Hughes said. “Being down in the count or in a full count doesn’t really pressure us. I tell them to see it big and react small.”

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Luke Roth (Mid-Major Media) special to BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Softball / Roundup

Sizemore sizzles in the circle and in the box for Tigers

CLATSKANIE — The Clatskanie softball team continued its strong start in 2A/1A District 1 play last week, sweeping Vernonia in a three-game series to improve to 5-1 in league action.

The Tigers opened the series last Wednesday with a 16-3 win in six innings, with the game played at Clatskanie due to inclement weather in Vernonia.

No. 6 Clatskanie (11-5) then finished off the sweep Friday on its home field, taking Game 2, 17-2 in four innings, before rolling to a 22-6 win in three innings in the series finale.

Clatskanie’s offense was steady throughout the week, scoring 55 total runs across the three games.

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Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

WIAA Prep Softball / Roundup

The 3A Report

Kelso bats go electric against Evergreen

Kelso defeated Toledo 7-3 on April 21 in a non-league tilt at Lassie Beach, and won 34-2 against Evergreen on April 24 in Vancouver.

The victory over the Plainsmen left the Lassies just a half game out of first place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League standings.

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Luke Roth (Mid-Major Media) special to BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Prep Softball / Roundup

Tigers win two for skipper after Hughes gets tossed

The No. 6 ranked Clatskanie High School softball team rebounded from a wild series-opening loss to take two of three from Nestucca last week and claim its first league series of the season in the process.

The Tigers dropped Wednesday’s opener in Cloverdale, 15-11, in a game that also saw Clatskanie head coach Teauna Hughes get ejected.

With Hughes serving her suspension when the Bobcats came to town Friday, Clatskanie (8-5, 2-1 league) responded by sweeping the home doubleheader, winning the first game 7-3 before taking the finale 10-4.

After a chaotic opener, the Tigers showed resilience the rest of the week.

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

3A/2B Prep Softball / Report

LASSIE BEACH — It wasn’t your typical matchup on McMahon Field on Tuesday afternoon. Under cold, gray skies with low-hanging rain clouds typical of a Pacific Northwest spring evening, the Kelso softball team welcomed Toledo to K-Town for a cross-classification contest smack dab in the middle of their respective league schedules.

Facing one of the top teams in the 2B ranks, the 3A Lassies turned in a composed and complete performance to put some distance between themselves and the pesky Riverhawks from upriver in a 7-3 win at Lassie Beach.

In a game that quickly tilted in favor of the hosts, Kelso set the tone early and never fully allowed Toledo find its rhythm. The Lassies utilized timely hitting, patience at the plate, and steady pitching to secure the win and hand the ‘Hawks just their second loss of the season.

“It was important because this is a good Toledo team,” Kelso head coach Dean Sorenson said. “Kylie (Killett) was hitting her spots, especially that outside pitch, and our defense made some really nice plays behind her.”

It was a competitive showing for a Toledo team that continued to battle despite falling behind early. And to be sure, playing from behind is not something the Riverhawks have had much opportunity to get used to so far this spring.

“We don’t quit,” Toledo head coach Jeff Davis said. “We got down early, but we kept competing, had some good defensive plays, and got a big swing late. That’s something we can build on.”

But with its Cowlitz River neighbors in town looking for an upset, Kelso wasted no time applying pressure early.

— VIDEO: Kelso’s Brianna Wesemann delivers a bases-loaded hit to center field to drive in two runs during a non-league matchup against Toledo on Tuesday, April 21, at Lassie Beach. After striking out in a similar situation earlier in the game, Wesemann responded with a key at-bat to extend the Hilanders’ lead in a 7-3 victory. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

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Matt Baide for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

WIAA Prep Softball / Roundup

The 3A Report

Hefley’s grand slam leads Lassies’ offense

Kelso lost to Prairie 12-0 on April 14 in Vancouver but bounced back with a 17-0 win at home against Mountain View on April 16 and won against Battle Ground 12-2 on April 17 in Battle Ground.

“We kind of coming into our own right now,” Kelso head coach Dean Sorensen said. “Our pitching has been solid, we just need to do a little more hitting.”

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

2A Prep Softball / Report

THE LUMBERJILL YARD — Under bright, sunny skies in a Civil War rivalry matchup the Mark Morris softball team turned in one of its most dominant performances of the season, overwhelming R.A. Long 24-0 in a 2A GSHL contest Friday.

In a game that quickly tilted in favor of the visitors, Mark Morris set the tone early and never let up, using relentless offense and strong pitching to secure the run-rule victory — and Makenzie Henthorn had a hand in most it.

“We’ve just been working really hard on seeing our pitches and taking advantage of that,” Mark Morris head coach Chris Mejia said. “Being disciplined at the plate, swinging at pitches we know we can hit, and leaving the ones outside our zone.”

It was a tough result for a R.A. Long team that continued to compete but was unable to slow down the Monarchs’ offensive surge.

“They just had a hot night—they’re a good team,” R.A. Long head coach Jim Van Fleet said. “That’s really all there is to it.”

— VIDEO: Highlights from Mark Morris’ 24-0 win at R.A. Long in the Civil War, Friday, April 17, at R.A. Long High School. / Video by Patrick Durgeloh for Blast Zone Media —

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

2A Prep Softball / Report

WOODLAND — After a week filled with rainouts across Southwest Washington, the sun finally broke through just long enough for the Woodland softball team to get hot. The Beavers delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, Thursday, defeating R.A. Long 13-3 as they continue to trend upward in the 2A Greater St. Helens League standings.

In a highly anticipated league matchup with the Lumberjills that stayed close until the very end, Woodland used a late offensive surge to pull away. A seven spot in the sixth inning pushed the game into mercy rule territory and gave the hosts the emphatic victory they’d been searching for.

“We were more aggressive at the plate today,” Woodland head coach Tom Christensen said. “We talked about being ready for every pitch, more of a ‘Yes, yes, yes approach,’ and it showed.”

Meanwhile, the Jills suffered their fourth consecutive loss as they gear up for Friday’s home date with their crosstown rivals for the Civil War. It was a tough result for an R.A. Long side that showed signs of progress but couldn’t match Woodland’s late surge.

“I’m proud of us,” R.A. Long head coach Jim Van Fleet said. “We battled back and showed a lot more fight than we have. It might look like a blowout, but it wasn’t for most of the game.”

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Luke Roth (Mid-Major Media) special to BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

OSAA Softball / Roundup

Tigers recalibrating for league run

The No. 6-ranked Clatskanie softball team has all of a sudden dropped back-to-back games for the first time since the opening week of the season.

Last Wednesday the Tigers took on top-15 ranked 4A Stayton in a midweek non-league matchup and wound up on the wrong end of a 15-5 outcome. Despite the final score, the Tigers showed plenty of fight against strong competition.

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Matt Baide and Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Prep Softball / Roundup

Live action has been limited on softball diamonds across the greater Blast Zone area this week, especially in Washington where spring break is in full swing.

There have been a few exceptions, especially out in Pacific County where BZM spent back-to-back days earlier this week, but there’s also plenty of action to get caught up on from the first few weeks of the season.

Keep reading below the paywall to learn what your favorite teams have been up to, and where they’ll be playing next.

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

1B/2B Prep Softball / Bear Creek Battle

NASELLE – The Naselle softball team wasted no time flipping the script from Monday’s interstate letdown, using an explosive first inning and relentless offense to roll past Ilwaco 21-6 in a non-league rendition of Battle for Bear Creek rivalry, Tuesday, at Ruben Penttila Field.

Under bright skies and steady winds that whipped across the diamond, both teams battled the elements early before Naselle’s offense took control. It was a disappointing result for a crew of Fishermen in search of their first win.

“We were missing spots and made some mental errors, and they capitalized.” Ilwaco Barb Patana.

After surrendering an early lead, the Comets responded with authority, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looking back.

“Our bats were going today, and that makes everything easier,” said Naselle head coach Rebekah Wirkkala. “They reset mentally after yesterday, came out with a different energy, and it showed.”

— VIDEO: Naselle’s Lili Ford delivers with the bases loaded, ripping a ground ball to Ilwaco’s second baseman that plates Kaitlyn Steenerson and Wirkalaa after an error to make it 5-3 in the first inning during a non-league game, Monday, April 7, at Ruben Penttila Field in Naselle. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

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Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Interstate Prep Softball / Report

NASELLE – The Clatskanie softball team weathered early momentum swings and eventually turned sustained pressure into a 19-8 five-inning win over Naselle under sunny skies and heavy wind in a non-league interstate matchup between OSAA and WIAA schools on Monday.

The 2A Tigers from Oregon applied pressure immediately in the first inning, which paid off later on and helped the visitors to get home for dinner.

McKinsey Doyle reached on a throwing error and then was able to move into third as the ball continued to bounce away from the defense, before scoring on a passed ball in the next at-bat. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded after walks surrendered to Adalyn Wemmer, Joey Sizemore, and Olivia George, a hit-by-pitch credited to Kayden Byrum brought in a run. Then another pitch that got away allowed George to score as Clatskanie struck for three runs in the opening half frame.

“We just went one at-bat at a time and didn’t try to do too much,” Doyle said.

— VIDEO: Answering right back, Naselle’s Jessie Smith delivers and RBI double into the right center gap in the bottom of the first to spark a five-run inning against clatskanie on Monday, April 6, at Ruben Penttila Field in Naselle. / Video by Skyler Smith for Blast Zone Media —

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*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include a highlight video by Patrick Durgeloh.

Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

3A/2A Prep Softball / Report

TAM O’SHANTER – The Kelso softball team turned a chaotic middle inning into all the separation it needed on the way to a 13-3 five-inning win over R.A. Long under-the-lights in the annual “Battle of the Plaid” matchup Friday night at the Herensperger Complex.

The temperature was chilly at first pitch and the thermometer was sinking fast as the sun went down – but the Lassies were even cooler than cool in the non-league cross-river rivalry tilt.

“(R.A. Long) scored two in the first, but we didn’t panic,” said Kelso’s head coach Dean Sorensen. “We just came back and played our game.”

— VIDEO: Highlights from Kelso’s 13-3 win over R.A. Long in the annual Battle of the Plaid, Friday night at Tam O’Shanter Park in Kelso. / Video by Patrick Durgeloh special to Blast Zone Media —

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1A Prep Softball / Report

KALAMA — The Kalama softball team took care of business by utilizing its best aluminum and leather in a 20-0 shellacking of Castle Rock in just five innings of 1A Trico League action, Thursday, at Kalam High School.

The Chinooks hammered out 19 hits and scored in all four of their turns at the bat to sweep the regular season series over the Rockets in dominant fashion.

And in the field the ‘Nooks saw pitcher Katelynne Jones allow just four hits in a shutout effort abbreviated by the mercy rule.

“Not only were their bats hot but they played the ball very well too by not letting any Rocket score a run,” Kalama assistant coach Brad Rinard said. “They came out to play ball and it showed.”

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