CENTRALIA – Pe Ell-Willapa Valley’s comeback attempt came up short as the Titans fell to the Napavine Tigers 6-4 in the 2B District IV championship game.

The Tigers (20-3 overall) jumped on the Titans (19-4) early with a run in the first and two more runs in the third to put PWV behind early.

The Titans stayed within striking distance and got a run closer when Katelyn McGough drove in Grace Hodel to get PWV on the board.

After an RBI ground out from Solana Sanchez pushed the Tiger’s lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth, PWV’s offense showed signs of life when Brittany Patrick took advantage of an infield error to bring the score to 4-2.

The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth to put the Titans down by four with six outs remaining.

After six innings of struggling to get hits off Napavine starter Abbi Music, the Titans got to her in the final frame on a Katie Adkins run-scoring double and a Annika Mason’s run-producing line drive that handcuffed Napavine center fielder Jenna Sisson.

The rally would fall short, however, as Music was able to gather herself after a meeting in the circle and dispatched Hodel with a strikeout, giving Napavine the district title.

PWV coach Ken Olson said it took a few innings for his team to adjust Music’s velocity and had too many at-bats where they chased pitches that were above the strike zone.

“We generally have quality games against these guys and Abbi is unusual in that we don’t see that speed enough,” he said. “We bit on the rise ball a little more than we ever have in any game I’ve seen in the last two years. That was not Titan softball in the first two innings.”

PWV fell short of its goal to repeat as district champions but still have a chance to achieve its ultimate goal of a state title when the 2B State Tournament begins on Saturday, May 26.

Olson said he’s not sure who they will face next but is confident he has enough time to get his players prepared for whichever team is in the opposing dugout.

“I got three days to plan. I can get it figured out,” he said. “You have the district championship on Saturday and you get your bracket on Sunday. Then you have to contact the newspaper and find out everything you can possibly find out for the teams on your side.”

Olson noted that he was encouraged by the way his team made the game close in the seventh inning.

“You have to give them credit you don’t want to take away anything from a team that beats you 6-4,” Olson said. “We just talked about cleaning up a few things and we’ll be ready to go to state and see what we can do over there.”

Napavine 120 120 0 – 6 7 2

PWV – 001 100 2 – 4 5 2

WP — Music (8 K, 4 ER, BB); LP — Kam. Adkins (2 BB, K, 4 ER)

Leading Hitters: N – Music (2-4, R), Thompson (2-4, RBI); PWV – Patrick (2B, 3B, 2R), Kam. Adkins (2B, RBI)