Saints fall to Spokane in title game, finish second

 

Head coach Meadow McWhorter and her Saints softball team scratched and clawed their way into the NWAC championship game on Monday before falling just short to Spokane Community College, losing 12-3.

It was a beautiful and sunny morning at Delta Park, when the Saints took on the Sasquatch for NWAC bragging rights.

Spokane jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Shawnee Zink hit a solo home run. But Mt. Hood came right back in the bottom half of the first inning, as Chelsea Spanier drove in a run after finding space in the outfield.

The two teams were tied at 3-3 after two innings of action, before the game turned.

Spokane jumped all over Mt. Hood’s pitching in the fourth inning and took a commanding 7-3 lead. Unfortunately for the Saints, Spokane’s All-American Lindsie Scholwinski (29-0, 0.81 ERA on the season) was in the pitching circle and she took over the contest after the second inning.

There would be no comeback; in fact, after a Sasquatch grand slam, the game would end after only five innings with the mercy rule.

“Our number one goal this year was to make the tournament,” said McWhorter, whose Mt. Hood teams have won four of the last seven NWAC titles, including last year’s crown. “The South Region was stronger and we were young in key areas so we knew it would be a challenge.”

Mt. Hood would feel the loss of dominant pitchers Kristen Crawford and Ann-Marie Guischer, who had led the 2014 run. “I expect us to compete, but I knew we did not have the experience in the circle like we had last season,” McWhorter said.

Spokane’s head coach, Janet Skaife, has a tremendous amount of respect for McWhorter and the Saints. “I told Meadow that I was impressed with her team. They played (six) games to get to the championship and she and her team have to feel so proud.”

Skaife, whose Sasquatch won all five games they played at Delta Park, gave the Saints a lot of credit for bouncing back after losing the second game of the tournament.

“Some teams just peak at the right time and play above their heads,” said Skaife. “Meadow and her team have to feel awesome after their year, and I congratulate them for their resilience and determination. What a great tournament they had,” she said.

This was Skaife’s final game after an 18-year tenure at Spokane. She couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out.

Mt. Hood played seven games in three days, including the championship game.

The Saints played Olympic CC in the first round, beating them 4-3 behind great pitching from Kelly Scott. In the second round, Mt Hood ran into South Region rival Southwestern Oregon CC and their great pitcher, Kaelyn Paque. Mt Hood lost 5-2. But McWhorter didn’t allow her team to get down on their luck.

“It was a moment of truth,” recalls McWhorter. “We talked about what it would take for us to make it to Monday (and) our sophomores really shined in their leadership at that moment.”

It was an uphill fight, but the Saints would climb their way to that Monday title matchup, wiping the nasty taste of that loss from their mouths.

First, the Saints played Pierce CC, and showed just how resilient they were. Three Saints went deep – SheaLee Lindsey, Reeghan Lehnart, and Rachel Rutledge – and Mt Hood wound up winning, 17-5. Scott picked up the W in the circle.

Lower Columbia CC would then fall victim to the Saints, 8-2.

The Saints would continue their hot streak and beat Douglas CC, 13-2, thanks in large part to Kasidee Lemberger, who went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. Once again, Scott made it look easy in the circle and was blessed with another offensive outburst to back her up.

The Saints then took on Southwestern Oregon again, with revenge on their minds. The Saints’ bats came alive in the fourth inning where they scored four runs. Mt. Hood was able to capitalize this time around and took down the Lakers, 7-5.

Only one team stood between Mt Hood and the title showdown. The Saints would have to take down Clackamas CC, their tough South rival and the No. 2 seed overall in the tournament. The Saints would win, 5-4, in a tough game. This time around, Scott came into the game in relief during the third inning, then allowed just one hit in 4.2 innings of work. Mercedes Green helped the offense with a 2-for-4 afternoon, which included two RBIs. Lindsey added three hits and scored two runs.

That set up the Monday match with Spokane. If the Saints had won, they would have needed to beat undefeated Spokane a second time to earn another title. But, Scholwinski and Spokane’s hot hitting put an end to those hopes.

In the end, Mt. Hood could reflect on a 35-11 overall record (14-6 in the South) and the NWAC runner-up trophy for 2015.

As for individuals, congratulations were due sophomore shortstop Spanier and sophomore outfielder Lindsey, who were named Louisville Slugger/ National Fastpitch Coaches Association NWAC All-Americans. (Players are voted in by NFCA-member NWAC representatives.)