Mowing through the 2B District 4 tournament all the way to the title game, the Adna softball team proved to fare no better than any other team put in front of Ocosta’s Jessie Gilbert Saturday night at Fort Borst Park in Centralia, managing just one hit in a 3-0 loss.
It’s the Pirates’ first loss to a 2B team since the state championship game against Pe Ell-Willapa Valley last year, and the first time the Pirates have been shut out since that very same game.
The Pirates vaunted batters were held completely in check, striking out 15 times in 23 at-bats.
Adna coach Bruce Pocklington said Gilbert’s run at the tournament is one of the best he’s seen since he’s coached, with the sophomore striking out 66 batters over 27 innings over her run at the tournament.
“That’s the best pitcher we’ve faced all year,” he said. She’s up there.”
Gilbert allowed just one hit, that flew up straight in the air and probably should’ve been caught by her infield, and walked just three batters. Though Adna threatened with runners in scoring position, it couldn’t get bunts down, and couldn’t make hard enough contact to drive in any runs.
“It’s a mental thing,” Pocklington said. “We struck out our first six or so and then it was a fight. The bottom of our order put the ball in play a little better, but we couldn’t drive any in.”
Conversely, Adna’s Ava Simms had a standout day in the circle, matching Gilbert’s 15 strikeouts with 15 of her own, while allowing just three hits and walking on.
One of those hits was a solo home run by Gilbert, and the other two drove in runs, albeit off errors, as Simms had just one earned run.
Despite the loss, the Pirates will travel to the 2B State Tournament next week in Yakima with larger goals in mind, hoping to avenge this loss and their loss in the state title game a year ago.
If anything, Saturday night’s loss is a reminder that winning a state championship won’t be easy.
“We need to be better,” Pocklington said. “We’re not as good as we think we are yet, but we’ll get there.”
