Bobcats' title defense falls short

EYE ON THE BALL: Jordann Roberts watches a pitch cross the plate against Irrigon during the state title game Friday. The Observer/BARRETT HENDERSON

The 2009 OSAA class 2A/1A state softball championships was anything but pretty. A combination of the weather, a muddy field and a game that featured a total of six hits led to Irrigon capturing its school’s first team title in any sport.

The Knights (19-8) defeated the 19-7 Bobcats 1-0 off a run in the first inning. Irrigon High School, which opened its doors in 2005, completed an unbelievable run in the state tournament after finishing third in its league.

“Union is a tough team. Jessica Reynolds has proven that she is one of the best players in the state the past two years. She pitched her heart out today, especially under tough conditions. My hat is off to them for a great game.”

A slow, steady rain fell as the game began and it shifted from slow to very heavy until the fifth inning. There were several delays for field maintenance to add dirt to the mound, and there was standing water around each base.

Union’s Reynolds began the game by walking Irrigon’s leadoff batter, Jessica Henrichs. The Knights next hitter, Ariel Schock, laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Henrichs to third.

Irrigon’s Noelle Wright then grounded out to the Bobcats’ second basemen, Jordann Roberts. But Henrichs took off on the hit and scored the game’s lone run.

“We didn’t have our greatest game today,” Union head coach Paul Phillips said. “The girls played good ball all year long. It’s just too bad it came down to this today where we had an off day. It was just a bad time to have it.

“Hats off to Irrigon, they’re a good team. They deserved to win. It’s frustrating we didn’t get something going on earlier, but that’s the way it goes I guess.”

The game featured two of the state’s finest pitchers, Reynolds and Wright. Irrigon held Union hitless until the fifth inning when Jessica Poe singled to centerfield. Both pitchers threw all seven innings.

Wright recorded eight strikeouts and three walks. She allowed two hits and faced 24 batters. Reynolds collected 11 strikeouts and two walks. She gave up four hits and faced 27 batters.

“I just can’t say enough about their kids and how tough they played,” McElligott said. “These conditions were so adverse, but they battled through it. To come back and fight like they did from a third place finish in their league and make the state title game for the second year in a row is almost as impressive as winning it last year.

“I didn’t have to do anything to motivate my girls. I don’t put greatness into these girls, I just pull it out. It’s already there. They are such tough kids.”

With its 2, 3 and 4 hitters leading off the bottom of the seventh inning, Union made its first real threat.

Roberts singled to centerfield and then Shanna Riomondo walked. Ali Anderson then reached on a fielder’s choice, but Irrigon threw out Roberts at third.

Poe stepped in and Anderson and Riomondo each advanced a base after a wild pitch. The Bobcats now had runners on second and third, trailing 1-0.

Wright then struck out Poe swinging and Union’s final batter Chelsea Wyant swinging, leaving the Bobcats’ tying run 60 feet away.

“The weather hurt us, but we just didn’t get it done,” Phillips said. “We make no excuses. We just didn’t get it done. It would have been nice to have seen a bright, sunny day so you could see Jessy Reynolds throw her full speed, but you can’t blame it on anything.

“The game-winning run is a leadoff walk. They scored that with no base hits in the inning. We have nothing to be ashamed of; we just didn’t make it

happen today.”

Irrigon    100 000 0    —    1 4 0

Union    000 000 0    —    0 2 2

W — Wright. L — Reynolds.