ADNA — In the state quarterfinals last year, it took a late solo home run from Brytin Dollarhyde for Adna to top Pe Ell-Willapa Valley.
Dollarhyde homered again in the two team’s first meeting since last May, but it wasn’t a bomb that broke a late tie. Instead, it was part of a 13-run first inning that catapulted the Pirates to a dominant 19-5 win.
“We talk about qualities (at-bats),” Adna coach Bruce Pocklington said. “And we had really good qualities.”
After a scoreless top of the first, the first five Pirates to step to the plate all reached base safely, leaving the bases loaded for Dollarhyde. She drilled an opposite field grand slam to extend Adna’s lead to six.
Adna wasn’t done, however. Every ball the Pirates put in play was hit hard, and most of their hits found grass in the outfield.
By the end of the inning, 13 runners had crossed the plate, and they had already tallied 11 base hits.
“We took some pitches up that we like to swing at, and when we stay off that pitch, we’re really good,” Pocklington said. “We had some really good takes that got her to bring the ball down in our zone.”
Danika Hallom brought two more home with a double in the second, and two more came across on a Dollarhyde RBI single and an error later in the inning.
Dollarhyde went on to finish the day 2 for 4 with her five RBIs, while Hallom went 2 for 4 and drove in four. Alyssa Carroll also collected a pair of hits and drove in three, and Kendall Humphrey finished with two RBIs.
All nine Pirates who got an at-bat tallied at least one hit, and seven of them drove in at least one run.
The Titans were able to get the bats going late, scoring one in the fourth on an RBI single from Sophia Milanowski, and she also hit a two-run home run as part of PWV’s four-run fifth.
“We were being a little more patient at the plate,” PWV coach Eric Hopfer said. “That was supposed to be the plan, was to stay off the low stuff. And we ended up just drilling that (into the ground) the first time through the lineup.”
Milanowski finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs, while Addison Merkel drove in a run with an RBI single.
Hopfer was disappointed with the outcome, but he is also optimistic about what the Titans could accomplish after some much needed rest. Prior to Monday’s loss, they had won five straight, including wins over Kittitas and Warden, two teams that made the state semifinals last season.
“We’re just dealing with so much sickness on the team right now,” Hopfer said. “We’re gonna get some practice in this week … I’m hoping we just get healthy and get back on track. We’ve been pushing it a little bit.”
Adna has now won three in a row after starting the season with losses to 3A Sedro-Woolley and 4A Bonney Lake.
Avery LaFontaine has been a big reason why, as the sophomore has been solid in the circle.
On Monday, she allowed eight hits and five runs, but just two of them were earned.
“When she gets ahead in the count, makes them swing the bat, we’re pretty good,” Pocklington said. “The last three outings, she’s been getting better. It was a good day for her.”
LaFontaine and the Pirates (3-2) will look to keep rolling on Thursday at Onalaska in a non-league matchup, while the Titans (5-2, 2-0 P2BL) will return to league play against undefeated Forks next Tuesday, April 8.
