College Place softball wins third district title championship in five seasons

The College Place softball team proved it was the top squad in the South Central Athletic Conference after recently winning the regular-season league championship for the first time since 2022.

CPHS went one step further on Wednesday, May 13, at Yakima's Kiwanis Park when it claimed the Class 1A District 5 title for the third time in five seasons with an 8-3 victory over Naches Valley.

"It was tough," College Place coach Corey Davis said. "Naches played really well. You've got to give them a lot of credit."

The Hawks will compete in the Class 1A state tournament that runs May 21-23 at Richland's Columbia Playfields. Tournament pairings will be revealed by the WIAA on Sunday.

Both College Place and Naches Valley scored a run in the fourth inning of Wednesday's championship game. The Hawks' march toward the tying tally was ignited by a lead-off triple off the bat of Carli Ray. She later scored on a Rangers' throwing error.

Naches Valley scored twice in the top of the fifth prior to a six-run explosion by College Place in the bottom half of the inning. Layla Tonn was hit by a pitch at the outset and her sister, Gracelyn, walked.

The Tonns moved up a base each on a wild pitch and Layla scored on an infield hit to short by Chuck Amick. Gracelyn moved to third on Amick's knock and crossed the plate on the play on a Naches error to even the score at 3-3.

Audrey Schild followed with a single to right field that brought in Amick with the go-ahead run. Schild went to second when starting pitcher Anna Ortega reached base on an infield hit.

Addy Svilich, after a wild pitch, singled in both Schild and Ortega with two out to cap the productive uprising.

"We didn't score early, but we were able to have at-bats to build up the pitch count," Davis said. "In the fifth inning, we were more patient, relaxed a little bit, and it paid off. It was great to see Addy deliver in a key spot. It broke their backs a little bit."

Ray connected for a one-out single in the sixth inning, stole second, and scored on a two-out single to right-center by Rio Hayes.

Ortega did not issue a walk and struck out 15 over seven innings. Only one Rangers' run was earned.

"She was lights out," Davis said. "That's how she's been all year. She was dominant in the circle.

"Both pitchers threw really well," Davis said, complimenting Naches Valley's Eden Hayes. "We were handcuffed through the first four innings and were kept off balance. It took us a while to get that big hit."

Now the state tournament awaits. Davis described next week's adventure as "a nice reward for a season of hard work."

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