TACOMA -- The Walla Walla softball team capped the second day of its 4A state tournament by winning three games, including a 4-1 victory over Auburn-Riverside in the third-fourth place game to secure the first state softball trophy in school history.
"We had a heck of a day," said Blue Devils coach Jerry Humphries, who also led the team to another first this season -- a sweep of league, district and regional titles. "The kids were real excited to be in the trophy game. We were a little concerned that, because we were tired, being in the trophy game would be enough.
"But all day long we battled and showed that we wanted to play."
Wa-Hi hitters collected nine hits off arguably the state's top player, UW-bound pitcher Amanda Fitzsimmons, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning to secure the win.
Alexis Bobadilla, the CBBN Cascade Division MVP, had a big day, scoring two runs in a 4-2 win over Redmond and then adding another after an eighth-inning triple against A-R. She also pitched the first four innings of a 2-1 win over Stanwood to open the day, combining with Hope Klicker to hold the Spartans to five hits.
"We did what we came here to do," said Bobadilla, who also gave credit to freshman Alyson Ambler, who picked up a complete-game win against Redmond. "Al is a beast. She's amazing. I was ready to come in (in relief), but she got it done."
Klicker scattered five hits for a complete game against Auburn-Riverside, and Ambler smashed a long solo home run to left in Walla Walla's three-run eighth-inning outburst.
Junior second baseman Jill McDaniels also capped a strong tournament, going 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the finale.
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Wa-Hi softball star Ambler signs with UConn
Wa-Hi softball star Ambler signs with UConn
Alyson Ambler will be a Husky ... a Connecticut Husky, that is.
The Walla Walla High School ace pitcher/first baseman will head to UConn next fall on a full-ride scholarship. Though she garnered interest from Washington, Oregon and Oregon State, among other colleges, Ambler decided to head east.
"I had taken a lot of visits, including a lot of them around (the Northwest), but I still wanted to check out more because that one wasn’t quite it," said Ambler, the 2011 Gatorade Washington Softball Player of the Year. "When I stepped on campus at UConn and experienced it all, when I left, I knew I didn’t want to go anywhere else. It was just a feeling."
Kennewick volleyball earns shot at trophy
Kennewick volleyball earns shot at trophy
LACEY -- The Kennewick Lions' hopes of a trophy finish at the 3A state volleyball tournament are still alive.
The Lions shook off a 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 first-round loss to Camas and rebounded with a crucial 25-11, 22-25, 26-24, 25-18 consolation win over Enumclaw to earn a shot at a trophy game today at Saint Martin's University.
Kennewick will face Meadowdale today at 8 a.m. The winner of that match will play in the seventh/eighth place game at 5:15 p.m.
Lots of events coming to town
Lots of events coming to town
OK, it's cold out. But there's still a lot going on in Mid-Columbia sports during these winter months.
For example, the Tri-Cities Sports Council met last week with a number of items being discussed.
Pasco High athletic director Le Burns said that 36 high school wrestling teams are expected to compete in the annual Best of the West tournament at Pasco High, set for Dec. 22 and 23.
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
Has another year gone by already?
Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
Has another year gone by already?
Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
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