Union rides Shalee’s comet to victory and semifinals

REYNOLDS WRAPPED: Union’s Jessy Reynolds rounds second base during the Bobcats’ 2-0 victory over Pilot Rock. The Observer/BARRETT HENDERSON

Fortunately for Union they have a pretty good pitcher. The Bobcats, powered by Jessy Reynolds and some timely hits, defeated Pilot Rock Friday, 2-0, in the quarterfinals of the OSAA Class 2A/1A tournament.

Union stranded three runners in the first inning, two in the second and two in the third. But Union did get their first run in the third inning.

“They dodged some bullets there early in the game. We just left too many runners on base.”

Reynolds struck out eight of the first 11 Pilot Rock batters. She struck out 12 of the Rockets’ 24 batters. The junior allowed two hits and committed two walks in the complete game performance.

“(Jessy) is the Class 2A/1A state player of the year for a reason,” Phillips said. “If someone comes into a game thinking differently they will get beat.”

Ali Anderson got things going for the Bobcats in the bottom of third inning with a deep hit to left field. Two batters later, Chelsea Wyant drove Anderson in with a single to left field.

Union left another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Pilot Rock had its first scoring threat in the top of the sixth inning when they advanced a runner to third base. But Reynolds silenced the threat with two strikeouts.

Shalee Kimball then gave Union the cushion it needed. She hit a solo home run over the higher fence in centerfield.

“I’ve had some difficulty hitting the ball lately, so that felt really good,” Kimball said. “I think it helped because our girls went wild after that. I think we played really good today and stuck to our game.

“Pilot Rock is a good team. We just came together and played as a team to win.”

After another Reynolds strikeout to open the top of the seventh inning, the Rockets put a minor scare in the Bobcats. A deep shot off the top of the wall in centerfield put a runner on first base for Pilot Rock.

The Rockets then hit a grounder to the Union shortstop and the Bobcats turned the double-play to win the game.

Union will make the 8-hour bus drive to Riddle for its semifinal match-up Tuesday.

“We just have a lot of kids stepping up right now,” Phillips said. “That’s what this time of year is all about, you either step up or you go home.

“I think Eastern Oregon is well represented in softball this season. As far as Riddle, I don’t know too much about them. I know they have a good pitcher and play good defense. But I’ll play around on the Internet and make some calls and learn more about them.

“If we go out and play our game, we’re going to be hard to beat. We are playing better ball now than we have all season.”

OSAA Class 2A/1A quarterfinals

Pilot Rock  000 000 0 – 0 2 2

Union         001 001 x – 2 8 0

W- Reynolds, L- Mullen. 2B- U, Anderson. HR- U, Kimball.