WP’s Season Ends Early At State

YAKIMA -- Waitsburg- Prescott succeeded in their team goal to make it to the state tournament at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima but were unable to secure any wins Friday.

GAME ONE

WP fell to the Adna Pirates

Friday, 10-0, during their first game at 11 a.m. at the WIAA state tournament. The game started slow with only one run scored in the first two innings by Adna's leadoff batter.

The second inning brought no runs for either side. The top of the third inning was quick and fruitless for WP and the bottom of the third did nothing to boost their confidence.

Adna started moving their bats in the bottom of the third inning, shaking the Cardinals' confidence. A missed fly ball and two errors brought four runs around before the Cardinals were able to end the inning with a score of 5-0.

The Cardinals came up to bat swinging at the top of the fourth inning but the Pirates were there to catch three hits in a row. In the bottom of the fourth, inning errors dictated the game. Five more runs came in for the Pirates bringing the score to 10-0.

The top of the fifth inning was the Cardinals' last chance to score and stop Adna, but they were unable to bring any runs around, ending the game.

"They were playing well, really well, until the third inning," head coach Angie Potts said. "Once you see one person make a mistake, it just goes downhill."

GAME TWO

The Cardinals saw their second loss of the tournament against the Warden Cougars, 13-3, at 3 p.m. on Friday, ending their run in the state tournament.

The Cardinals started the game off with hits, but they were unable to bring any runners around. The Cougars started slowly in the bottom half of the first inning, swinging their bats but they were unable to make any runs.

WP came into the second inning buzzing with energy and ready to score. Rhiannon Chapman hit a single into a gap. Heidi Miller followed up getting on base after being hit by a bad throw. Samantha Henze hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Enedina Fuentes walked to load the bases. Chapman scored on a dropped throw and Samantha Moss made a hit to bring another hit around, ending the inning with a score of 2-0.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cougars retaliated with a double on the first pitch. Three runs came around before the Cardinals could end the inning with a double play with a score of 2-3.

The Cardinals came back at the top of the third and moved the bats but the hits were all caught or fielded.

The Cougars rallied their momentum bringing a run around as soon as they took up their bats. A big hit to left field held up the game after the left fielder knocked part of the fence down in an effort to make a catch. The Cougars brought nine runs around giving the game a familiar feeling with a score of 2-12.

In the top of the fourth, the Cardinals retaliated with one run to close the ten run gap, but were shut down with a score of 3-12.

The Cougars struggled back in the bottom of the fourth and brought one run around before the third out was caught.

The Cardinals went into the top of the fifth with a score of 3-13. The Cougars held the Cardinals and ended the game before the Cardinals were able to make any runs.

"It was our goal to make it to state and we did that," head coach Angie Potts said. "Next year we'll do better."