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Lady Cats answer Corvallis calling
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Hang that banner. Union is headed to Corvallis. “We’re going to the ‘ship!” this Bobcat Bunch chanted near second base, minutes after defeating Pilot Rock 7-3 in this OSAA semifinal contest. “We’re going to the ‘ship!” They’re going to the ‘ship. Championship. Corvallis. Beaver Country. Whatever you call it, they’re going, and they’re playing Nestucca at 1 p.m. Friday for the right to be crowned Queens of Oregon. It’s been four years of waiting for seniors Carrie Stratton, Shelbi Williams and Jennifer Moore. Seven years for coach Steve Robertson. And countless years for this Union town, which didn’t even have a softball team until 2000. But the wait is over. And, oh, how special it is. “I’ve never felt anything like this,” Williams said. “It was unbelievable.” Believe it. Cherish it. Soak it in until Friday. Heck, soak it in the rest of your lives. Hang that banner. A RESILIENT BUNCH This was in doubt early, though, as Union trailed 3-1 entering its at-bat in the fourth inning. But that’s when two Bobcat hitters became Bobcat bashers, and a possible exit from this postseason became an entrance to Oregon State University. Here was Stratton, standing in the batter’s box, awaiting a pitch from Pilot Rock starter Renee Mulcare. Set. Wind. Release ... Thud! There it went, towering to left field ... Back, back, back ... Gone. Home run. The first of her career. Two batters later, here was Jessica Poe, awaiting a pitch from Mulcare. Set. Wind. Release ... Thud! There it went, sailing to center field ... Back, back, back ... Gone. Home run. The first of her career, too. Two-run deficit? That was gone. And four runs later, Pilot Rock was, too. “We’re at the ‘ship,” said Brittany Josephson, as the crowd cleared and Pilot Rock boarded its bus. “The ship is sailed.” Sailed through Wallowa. Lakeview. Salem Academy. Pilot Rock. And maybe Nestucca, too, come Friday. Hang that banner. THE ARM AND BATS
 The Observer/ BRUCE MASON She would set on the rubber, eyeing the catcher, eyeing the plate, twirling that neon softball in her right hand, before slapping that mitt against her thigh, winding, planting, then releasing a blazing pitch toward the batter. Pop! Strike three. Eight times. Jessy being Jessy. “She’s a great pitcher,” Pilot Rock coach Rick Hoisington said. “We just didn’t get the timely hits when we needed to.” They didn’t. But Union did. Thud! That was Moore, lacing an RBI single. Thud! That was Jordann Roberts, belting an RBI single. Thud! That was Poe again, this time whacking an RBI double in the sixth, giving Union an insurance run, putting Pilot Rock away for good, placing these Bobcats in the title game for the first time in school history. Oh, how special. Hang that banner. “Throughout the year, every one of our kids have done something,” Robertson said. “They’ve earned this. “It’s been a miracle, magical run.”
Union 100 222 x — 7 10 1 W — Reynolds. L — Mulcare. 2B— U, Riomondo, Poe; PR, Mulcare (2). HR— U, Stratton, Poe; PR, Winnett. |
