2A High School Softball: Mark Morris thunders its way to District title tilt with twin shutouts

PHOTO GALLERIES: Woodland reaches the end of the road; plus the final R.A. Long report

Mark Morris’ Kiera McGinley touches home plate while surrounded by her teammates after slugging her second home run of the day in a 17-0 win over Aberdeen in a 2A District IV semifinal, Thursday, May 15, at Rec Park in Chehalis. The Monarchs defeated Black Hills by a matching score of 17-0 earlier in the day and earned a State berth for their combined efforts. / Photo by CDurgeloh Sports Photography for Blast Zone Media

Jordan Nailon for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com

2A Prep Softball / Reports

CHEHALIS – It would be tempting to compare the Mark Morris softball team’s offense to a lightning strike after a dominating day evening at the ballpark on Thursday in the 2A District IV Tournament, but they say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot. Alas, the Monarchs rolled like thunder clouds to a pair of identical wins, defeating Black Hills 17-0 in the quarterfinals and then storming over Aberdeen 17-0 in the semifinals, to clinch a spot in the District title game and the 2A State Tournament berth that comes along with it.

“I think we did okay,” he said through a wet Cheshire Cat grin.”That’s the best two games I’ve seen these girls play all season, and against two top caliber teams.”

Shyanne Sellers led the Monarchs at the plate in the nightcap against the Bobcats, going 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. But she was not alone in her offensive assault as Mark Morris hammered out 31 hits with five home runs on the day.

Appropriately enough, a true lighting bolt ripped through the rapidly darkening skies immediately preceding a post-semifinal interview with Sellers. For true believers in the Baseball and Softball Gods it was a clear sign from the heavens that the Monarchs had impressed the great peanut gallery upstairs.

“We work a lot of live-ball, especially at practice,” Sellers explained of MM’s collective prowess at the plate. “And I guess a lot of it is just mindset as well – going in there with the knowledge that your teammates have your back and you feel safe to attack the ball and to swing freely.”

Oh, and knowing you’ve got a pitcher who can give up just one hit over a pair of postseason contests doesn’t hurt either. Such is life when Makenzie Henthorn is the ace on staff — spinning no-hitters with a frequency and ease that allows the feat to somehow become overshadowed by the Monarchs’ thunder bolt bats.

“Score as many runs as we can,” Sellers said of MM’s simple goal at the plate each game. “It helps to take the pressure off our defense and it takes the pressure of Kenzie. Again, it’s all mental and if we feel like there’s no pressure then there isn’t any.”

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