State softball: Pitching name of Colville’s game

Colville has been a regular qualifier for the State 2A softball tournament.

The Indians, though, have never placed higher than third. First-year coach and Colville alum Mandy Sumner believes it is time for that to change.

“We’re gunning for a state title,” Sumner said. “I feel like we have the ingredients to win a state title. We have two of the best pitchers in the state.”

Colville (18-1) begins its quest at noon Friday when it meets Centralia at Carlon Park in Selah.

The Indians are joined at state by Great Northern League qualifiers Cheney (11-11) and Pullman (13-10). Cheney meets Blaine at 10 a.m. and Pullman goes against W.F. West at noon.

Colville has been led by a solid 1-2 pitching combination of Alison Holst (9-1), who was named the GNL’s MVP, and Makayla Carr (9-0), both seniors.

“One is a power pitcher (Holst) and one is a finesse pitcher (Carr),” Sumner said. “I’ve alternated them all year. I hope to stay with the same pattern at state. Pitching has kept us in close games. Teams are averaging just two hits a game against us.”

Colville’s best state finish was third in 1998 when Sumner played.

4A: University (18-7) returns to state for the first time since 2005 after the Titans’ string of 10 straight appearances was snapped.

The Titans, the lone Greater Spokane League qualifiers, take on Heritage at 9 a.m. Friday at the SERA Fields in Tacoma.

If the Titans hope to earn a trophy, they’ll have their hands full.

“It’s which team is hot that weekend,” U-Hi coach Jon Schuh said of possible state success. “I think we haven’t necessarily played our best yet. We’ve seen glimpses of it. To be successful at state you’ve got to be able to pitch, play defense and hit. We did that against Mead (in the district title game). When we haven’t had offense we’ve struggled.”

3A: Mt. Spokane (14-12), which is making its second trip to state in school history, opens at 1 p.m. at SERA Fields in Tacoma against an opponent that won’t be determined until today.

A first-round win would likely pair the Wildcats against defending state champ Bainbridge in the quarterfinals.

1A: The tourney begins Friday at TRAC in Pasco.

Chewelah (13-10) meets Onalaska at 10 a.m. and Lakeside (20-2) takes on Nooksack Valley at noon.

2B: The tourney begins Friday at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.

Springdale (19-1) meets La Salle and Colfax (18-3) faces Waitsburg-Prescott, both at 9 a.m., while Davenport (19-2) goes against Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia (8-11) at 11.

1B: The tourney begins Friday at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.

Defending state champ Colton (10-4) takes on Lake Quinault, Almira-Coulee/Hartline (12-6) goes against Sunnyside Christian and Cusick (8-13) meets Highland Christian, all at 1 p.m.