It took over a month to decide, but Washington walked away with the championship of the Union Softball Tournament.
The Lady Jays (16-7) took the title with a 5-1 victory Saturday over Union.
“It was great to win the tournament championship. We haven’t been in the championship game of that tournament since 2008. I’m not sure when we won it last,” said Washington Head Coach Phil King. “It was a great game. We were able to create some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning.”
The earlier part of the tournament was played Aug. 25, but rain forced the championship and third-place games to be postponed.
Pacific defeated Warrenton in the third-place contest, 10-5.
“Washington hit the ball better than we did,” said Union Head Coach Bill Juengel. “We managed to put together only two hits for the game, which limited our scoring chances. Congratulations to Washington on winning the tournament.”
Leading the way for Washington was Liz Klussman, who tossed a two-hitter and also belted a home run.
In seven innings of work, Klussman allowed one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“Liz pitched great,” King said. “She must love hitting on that field because that’s where both of her home runs have come this year.”
Union (16-5) scored its only run in the top of the first inning. Courtney Zweifel connected for a triple and later scored on an RBI by Shelby Miller.
Washington took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Klussman tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Megan Freitag walked and later scored on an RBI single by Lilli Mantle.
The Lady Jays put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Rebecca Daugherty had an RBI single followed by an RBI double by Kaelie Smith, who later scored on a wild pitch. Elanna Osthoff and Katie Trigg also scored in the inning.
Brooke Ruether pitched the entire game for Union. In six innings, she allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
“We did make some good plays in the field to keep it a one-run game up until the sixth inning,” Juengel said.
Klussman reached base three times with two hits (one home run), one walk, one run and one RBI.
MC Landolt, Kaitlin Evans, Courtney Kedroski, Daugherty and Smith (double) each finished with one hit. Smith also walked, had one RBI and scored a run. Daugherty also walked and had one RBI. Mantle had one RBI. Freitag walked and scored.
Megan Altemueller and Zweifel (triple) both had one hit for Union. Karissa Peth and Kayla Kelly both drew a walk.
Washington and Union both finished second in their conferences, the GAC Central and the Four Rivers Conference, respectively.
Washington hosts Rockwood Summit in the Class 4 District 3 Tournament Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Union plays Borgia in the Class 3 District 9 Tournament Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Campbell Chapman Complex in Sullivan.
Washington-Warrenton
Washington won another 5-1 game Monday at Warrenton.
Sarah Westhoff pitched the first six innings for the win. She allowed one unearned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Rachel Micke pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out one batter.
Freitag belted a home run, finishing with two hits, one walk, two RBIs and two runs.
Smith finished with two hits (one double) and one RBI.
Osthoff (triple), Mantle (double), Westhoff (double), Klussman (double) and Evans each had one hit. Osthoff added two RBIs. Mantle scored a run. Megan Micke and Trigg both scored a run.
Jennah Garrison pitched all seven innings for Warrenton. She also led the offense with two doubles.
“Sarah had a perfect game going for 3 2/3 innings. She pitched great and Rachel came in to close it out,” King said. “It was a 2-1 game until Megan Freitag hit her first career home run, a two-run blast that gave us breathing room.”
Playing on senior night, Washington cruised to a 12-3 win over St. Charles last Thursday at Dutzow Ballpark.
Westhoff pitched the first two innings for Washington. Klussman worked the next two frames. Micke tossed the final three innings.
“Everyone in our lineup hit the ball,” King said. “It was nice to have such a successful night for the seniors.”
Union-Silex
Union fell to a Silex team with one just loss on the season Monday on senior night, 6-4.
Ruether pitched all seven innings for the Lady ’Cats. She allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Zweifel reached base three times with two hits and a walk. She also scored two runs.
Ruether had a double and two RBIs. Kirsten Dierberg added one hit and one RBI.
Peth drew a pair of walks. Briana Lakebrink walked and scored. Janna Ruether scored one run.
“We got off to a rough start, giving up two unearned runs in the first inning,” Juengel said. “The most encouraging part of the game was the fact that we had some hard-hit balls off a pitcher who knew what she was doing. They didn’t all go for hits, but they were well hit. We competed in the game and hopefully we can carry it through the week.”
