Saints softball finish third at NWAACC’s

Coming off a tremendous regular season, Mt. Hood’s softball team took third place during last weekend’s NWAACC championship tournament.

“This season was successful. We lost only seven games all season – two of which happened at the tournament.  This team has a lot to be proud of,” said head coach Meadow McWhorter.

The Saints were seeded No. 1 in the tournament, held at Delta Park in North Portland, and dominated in their first three games.

First on Friday, the team rolled over Highline Community College, winning 13-2. The Saints then matched up with Spokane Community College and again had no issues as they won, 8-2.

Advancing again, the team matched up with Southern region rival Clackamas Community College on Saturday. Scoring two quick runs in the first inning and getting a solo home run in the sixth, the team took care of business, winning 3-0.

That set up a Sunday showdown with No. 2 seed Wenatchee Valley. For the first time in the tournament, the Saints stumbled, losing 6-1.

Led by their star Division 1-bound pitcher, Hailey Bator, Wenatchee Valley had their way with the Saints. Bator allowed only three hits and struck out 13 batters. The Saints’ only run came from a seventh-inning home run by Maycee Abendschein.

“Bator is an excellent pitcher,” said McWhorter. “We knew she would be tough and I knew she would be hungry to beat us since we were the team that knocked them into the loser’s bracket last year.”

Despite the Saints’ first loss of the tournament, they still had a chance to meet Wenatchee again in the finals on Monday.

First, they would need to beat Douglas College, which had advanced from the loser’s bracket. Playing late Sunday afternoon, the Saints scored four runs in the third inning after Douglas scored twice in the second inning. It looked like Mt. Hood would come away with the win, until Douglas came back and scored three runs in the sixth inning.

The Saints couldn’t answer, and their season came to an end with the 5-4 loss. Still, Mt. Hood recorded an overall record of 39-7 and had won the Southern region, a strong showing for 2013.

“It is hard to prepare yourself for what could be your last at bat or last inning of your career and emotion can be high,” said McWhorter, reflecting on the year. “With that, our team was prepared and knew what to expect come tournament time.”
While they fell short of the championship, the Saints won several team and individual honors for the season.

McWhorter was awarded Southern Region coach of the year and freshman shortstop Teauna Hughes was crowned most valuable player of the southern region. Freshman ace Ann-Marie Guischer won Southern region pitcher of the year.

Four Saints were named to the Southern Region first team: Hughes, Guischer, freshman pitcher Kristen Crawford, and catcher Courtney McCarthy. Four more were chosen to the Southern Region second team: sophomore third baseman Lola Ciu, sophomore outfielders Heather Jett and Kylee Gaspar, and pitcher/infielder Maycee Absendschein.

“(Courtney) McCarthy improved the most from her freshman season to her sophomore season and for this season alone and (Kylee) Gaspar kept getting better and better,” said McWhorter.

Three Saints were named National Fast Pitch Coaches Association All-Americans: Guischer, McCarthy, and Hughes. McCarthy was chosen for Catcher of the Year by the NFCA.

There were off-field honors, as well. Four Saints were selected to the NWAACC All-Academic Team: Absendschein, Gaspar, Ciu and sophomore second baseman Kali Van Cleave.

Hughes said the NWAACCs setback couldn’t overshadow the team’s success. “Playing at MHCC has been amazing to say the least. I have made so many memories and have learned so much that I’m excited to see how much more we grow next season,” she said, looking forward to 2014.

“We need to make sure we don’t get complacent next year- we need to make sure to still come out with the same fire we have had this season and keep doing the little things,” she said.

Freshmen pitchers Guischer and Crawford finished the season second and third in earned run average in the NWAACC. Guischer had a 12-5 record, 1.45 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 games played. In 23 games, Crawford went 15-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 88 strikeouts.

Hughes led the NWAACC in home runs with 21 and finished third in RBIs with 60.

“I am going to miss the competitiveness and the fight of this team,” said McWhorter.

The team is expected to bring back 11 players heading into next season.