Bantams storm to victory over Hounds in district softball semis

May 15—PULLMAN — The Clarkston Bantams overcame wind, rain and dogged Hounds in a 2A Greater Spokane League softball district tournament semifinal game that began Wednesday and finished Thursday after a weather postponement at Pullman High School.

Third-seeded Clarkston prevailed against second-seeded Pullman by five-inning mercy rule with a final scoreline of 23-12.

"We just peaked at the right time," said Clarkston coach Kristin Wilson, whose team had lost two of three regular-season meetings with the Greyhounds. "We came ready to go. We had some tough practices, and we came ready to battle. We wanted this; we want this."

Senior shortstop Aneysa Judy led the Bantam effort on both offense and defense, batting 4-for-6 with a double and three RBI while making a double play to close out the fourth inning and securing the game-winning catch in the bottom of the fifth.

The result secured the Bantams a state tournament berth and set up a district final against top-seeded Deer Park at 4 p.m. today on the Stags' home field. Pullman's season concluded with the defeat.

A blustery start

The game began on Wednesday in weather described by Judy as "probably the worst thing you could ever play in." Determined officials worked hard to try to keep the contest on schedule, at one point pausing play to scatter dry dirt over the increasingly muddy dish and pitcher's circle.

The Bantams (14-8) handled the conditions as well as one could expect of them, bursting out of the gates for a big-hitting top of the first inning. Baserunners' teeth visibly chattered as they waited between at-bats.

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Meanwhile, the Pullman defense found itself in disarray, with wet balls repeatedly slipping out of fielders' gloves or blowing just out of their reach. Clarkston quickly shot out to a massive 11-0 lead which it consolidated when pitcher Olivia Tannahill struck out three consecutive batters in the bottom of the first.

The Greyhounds (15-7) gave up another four runs in the top of the second to trail 15-0 before they finally found some traction. Pullman had mustered six runs and loaded the bases when action was halted for the day due to unplayable field conditions in the bottom of the second.

"Just the belief that they can do it (was the key to mounting a rally)," Pullman coach Haylee Fishback said. "It doesn't matter about the conditions; they have to trust themselves and trust their ability to go and fight."

Closing it out

The Hounds continued their resurgence through the second and third innings after play resumed on a windy-but-dry Thursday afternoon, with an RBI triple on a deep outfield ball from Izzy Dahmen narrowing the gap to 15-9. Further attempts at cutting the deficit in the bottom of the fourth were shortcircuited by Judy's double play as she caught a line drive between second and third and fired the ball quickly to first to put out Pullman's Bailee Randall before she could tag up, ending the frame with Clarkston up 17-11.

The Bantams rediscovered their offensive spark in the top of the fifth. Joslyn McCormack-Marks stole home after a wild pitch to bring the lead back to double digits at 21-11, screaming in delight as she returned to the dugout.

Kizzie Line followed suit moments later, then freshman Mackenzie Gillie doubled on a line drive that sent Lily Entel home for what would prove to be the decisive run.

Needing three runs in the bottom of the fifth to forestall the mercy rule, Pullman found one as Sophie Collins knocked a deep single past first that sent Northwest Nazarene signee Taylor Cromie home. That was as far as the Hounds would get, with Judy catching a pop fly from Addie Rees to bring the game to a close.

Gillie hoisted Judy up by the waist while their Bantam teammates swarmed around them for a midfield celebration.

"We just needed to keep up our attitude and not get down if we lose a couple runs," Tannahill said in summing up Clarkston's mental approach to victory.

Odds and ends

Tannahill, nicknamed "Locked-in Liv" for her efforts as the Bantams' starting pitcher, went all five innings with seven strikeouts. Abby Miller had a game-high four RBI off her two hits for Clarkston, while Line and Gillie — who was described by Wilson as "a wall behind the dish" — added two hits and one double apiece.

For Pullman, Rees batted 3-for-4 with two RBI, while relief pitcher Ady Sanford racked up five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work. Fishback noted that this was "a better season than we've had in the program's history for a long time," saying she was proud of the "fantastic girls" who played for her this spring and wished "nothing but the best" for the Bantams as they move forward.

That begins with Clarkston's showdown today against Deer Park (20-1). The Bantams have gone winless in three meetings with the Stags so far this season, but did run them close in an 8-7 encounter on April 3.

"It will be a battle," Wilson said. "They're really good, but we can hang with them."

Clarkston (11)40 26—23 14 3

Pullman 081 21—12 11 7

O. Tannahill and M. Gillie; B. Randall, A. Sanford (2) and I. Dahmen.

Clarkston hits — A. Judy 4 (3B), K. Line 2 (2B), Gillie 2 (2B), B. Blaydes 2, A. Miller 2, I. Schlegel, J. McCormack-Marks.

Pullman hits — A. Rees 3, S. Collins 2, M. Druffel 2, J. Stewart 2, Dahmen (3B), C. Kapofu.

Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or cwendt@lmtribune.com.