Mt. Hood No. 1 going into NWAACCs

For the second year in a row, the Saints softball team (35-3, 17-3) has clinched the South Region in the NWAACC, and enters this weekend’s championship tournament as the No. 1 overall seed.

“We are proud of this accomplishment,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter. “It’s definitely one of the top regular seasons ever.”

Now, the Saints hope for a better ending in the tournament.

Last season, with a record of 39-7 (16-4 South), the Saints won the South and earned the top tournament seed. After losing to the eventual champion Wenatchee Valley Community College, 6-1, and then to Douglas College, 5-4, the team would finish third in the tournament.

This season, the team has looked even better than last year’s group and its impressive roster during the regular season. McWhorter says this year’s team is different from those she’s coached in the past and it’s what she will remember the most.

“Their love of the game, drive to get better, our sophomore leadership and the ‘specialness’ this team displayed early in the year that has continued to grow all season,” McWhorter said of her players. “Every team has their unique qualities, but this team is special. I have never been more inspired or more appreciative of a group than I am of this group and we have had some incredible teams.

“These young ladies are so dedicated to their studies, their teammates and the program,” she said.

Mt. Hood clinched the region title on Mother’s Day last Sunday after defeating Clackamas 5-1 in Game One of a double-header, before losing, 7-2, in the second match-up.

Entering with a one-game lead, the Saints only needed one win to clinch the region and they accomplished that. Scoring twice in the second inning and three times in the fourth, Mt. Hood showed it was more determined to win. The Saints would finish with 10 hits compared to the Cougars’ four, a big advantage. Freshman Kasidee Lemberger led the team in hits with three with four at-bats, with a double and an RBI.

“It felt good to know my teammates knew I could get the job done,” said Lemberger.

Freshman Ashlee Mueller also contributed, driving in two runs. Sophomore Ann-Marie Guischer picked up her 15th win of the season, tossing a complete game in seven innings and giving up four hits and one earned run.

With the South title won, Game Two didn’t have much meaning, but Mt. Hood would end with the 7-2 loss. Sophomore Emma Bird led the team in hits with two and drove in one RBI. Sophomore Morgan Entze drove in the other run. Sophomore Nicole Kellams picked up the loss, pitching a complete game and finishing 2-1 on the season.

Today is the first day of the NWAACC tournament, played at Delta Park in north Portland, which goes until Monday morning when two teams battle for the championship.

The Saints are again the favorite to win (something they did three straight times in 2009-11).

“I thought it was a big accomplishment winning the South Region. Our first goal was to make it to NWAACCs and the fact that we won the South Region just made it that much better,” said Lemberger.

Taking the region title “was definitely an amazing feeling,” said SheaLee Lindsey. “Since the beginning of the season our first goal was to make it into the tournament, then win the South (Region). So, it was definitely a huge deal to clinch the title.”

Mt. Hood’s first game in the tournament will be at noon today against No. 16 seed Grays Harbor Community College, on Field No. 3 at Delta Park. The two teams met on March 1, with the Saints winning 15-0 in Game One and Grays Harbor forfeiting the second game. They also played on March 15, with the Saints winning 15-0.

“My mindset going into the tournament is we just have to take one game at a time and never underestimate a team,” said freshman Mercedes Green, not taking the first game lightly.

The winner of that match-up will play the winner of No. 8 Spokane v. No. 9 Bellevue, at 4 p.m. today on Field No. 2.

“Once we’re in the tournament, nothing in the past matters. Every team is a challenge and we just need to take it game by game,” said Lemberger.

The target will be on the Saints’ back with the top seed, and teams will look to get their revenge against Mt. Hood if they get the chance.

“Coach (McWhorter) tells us every day that once we get to the tournament, everyone’s stats and wins are back to zero,” said Lindsey. “Everything starts over and it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve beat a team before, anyone can win on any given day.”

McWhorter explained her point: “Every team has pressed the restart button. What you did before means nothing, only thing that matters is the present. We need to play with purpose, one thing at a time, control what we can control and leave it all on the field,” she said.

Besides the Saints, some teams to look out for at Delta Park are Clackamas; reigning champion Wenatchee Valley; Douglas College; Southwestern Oregon; and Chemeketa Community College, which surprisingly shut out Mt. Hood, 5-0, on May 6.

“Chelsie Speer (former assistant to McWhorter, and former Saints head volleyball coach) always said ‘face the opponent.’ And that has been a quote I tell myself before every game,” said Lindsey.

McWhorter says she wants her players to just enjoy the experience.

“Be in the moment, leave it all on the field and enjoy this last weekend together playing Hood ball as a family,” she said.