DW Girls Split First Two Playoff Games

RICHLAND – The Dayton-Waitsburg softball team began their first round of EWAC District playoffs at Columbia Field here on a high note, winning in a rout over Lyle-Wishram-Klickitat, 15-0, in a mercy-rule-shortened three-inning game.

However, DW lost a heartbreaker in their second game, falling to Liberty Christian 11-9 in eight innings.

In the first game, DW took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning before exploding for 11 runs to end the game on the 15-run rule. DW had 10 hits, and pitcher Megan Robins gave up no hits against LWK.

Elise Steinhoff and Sadie Seney each had two hits for DW.

“DW played a very clean and fundamental game against LWK in their first game of the EWAC District Tournament,” said DW assistant Troy Larsen.

In their game against LC, DW built a 6-1 lead after two innings, but couldn’t hold it. LC came back to go ahead 9-6 after the top of the seventh. DW rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings, but LC scored two in the top of the eighth, which DW couldn’t match, ending the game.

Pitcher Robins struggled in the second game, giving up 15 hits. Steinhoff had three hits in the game, and Tatumn Laughery, Hanna Becker, Seney and Neylan Bryan each had two.

“Once LC took the lead DW got a little tight and made some mental mistakes in the field and on the base paths,” said Larsen. “I was very proud of the way the girls focused at the plate and fought back to send the game into extra innings.”

DW is set to face White Swan in their third playoff game, Saturday at noon at Chiawana HS.

First Game of District Tournament

LWK 0 0 0 - 0 0 2

DW  2 2 11 - 15 10 0

Tompkins and Fubio; Robins and H. Dobbs.

HR - none.

Hits - LWK: None; DW: T. Laughery, Becker, Castorena, Robins, Sandau, H. Dobbs, Steinhoff 2, Seney 2.

Second Game of District Tournament

LC 1 0 0 1 5 0 2 2 - 11 17 1

DW 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 - 9 15 2

Reed and Horne: Robins and H. Dobbs.

HR - none.

Hits - LC Pichards 2, Godwin 3, Steele 5, Calhoon 2, Horne 2, Loera, Reed, Torres; DW: T. Laughery 2, Becker 2, Castorena, Robins, Sandau, H. Dobbs, Seney 2, Steinhoff 3, Bryan 2.