CENTRALIA — Ocosta’s batting “slump” lasted less than 24 hours.
Mekenna Fletcher and Kaylee Barnum each slugged two home runs drove in five runs apiece as the Wildcats trounced Winlock in five innings, 13-3, in a District IV Class 2B softball tournament contest Wednesday at Fort Borst Park.
Having lost to Adna earlier in the day, North Beach was eliminated by Morton-White Pass, 15-0.
Staying alive in the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament, Ocosta (20-2) will face Toledo in another loser-out game scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.
With a win, the Wildcats need win only one of two games Saturday to clinch their first-ever state berth.
The normally hard-hitting Wildcats were blanked by Napavine, 1-0, in a Tuesday quarterfinal in which they did not even advance a runner as far as second base.
None of that offensive futility carried over to Wednesday. The Wildcats scored in every inning but the second and broke it open with 10 runs in the third and fourth.
“Our plan the entire season is patience at the plate,” Ocosta coach Jason Barnum said. “Let (the pitcher) get behind in the count. When she comes in, hit it.”
Fletcher and Kaylee Barnum each delivered three hits. Only a freshman, Fletcher rated the advantage in distance. Her two homers both cleared the left-field fence — a solo shot in the third inning and a three-run shot in the fourth.
Barnum used her speed to contribute a pair of inside-the-park jobs. Her fly to right field, with Evalyn Marsh aboard, was misjudged in the first inning. A longer drive in a similar direction landed at the base of the right-field fence with Marsh and winning pitcher Erika Snider on base ahead of her two innings later.
In both cases, Barnum never stopped running and beat the relays to the plate. Although yesterday’s homers boosted Barnum’s season total to 18, her father and coach said it was the first time she had hit multiple inside-the-park HRs in the same game.
Barnum’s second round-tripper snapped a 2-all standoff and put the Wildcats ahead to stay. Fletcher made it back-to-back homers moments later.
Fletcher’s second HR, with Marsh and Barnum on base, highlighted Ocosta’s six-run fourth.
Erika Snider, who relieved starter Fletcher in the second, allowed only one hit in 3 1/3 innings to pick up the victory.
Hyaks eliminated
CENTRALIA — After a district quarterfinal loss to Adna, North Beach took on Morton-White Pass and couldn’t avoid the big inning in a 15-0, four-inning loss to bow out of the district 2B tournament on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves finished with a no-hitter, with Zoe McCoy getting the credit in the circle with eight strikeouts. MWP used a 12-run third inning to pull away from North Beach, whose season comes to an end at 10-9.
Hannah Avery took the loss for the Hyaks, striking out one and walking one. Jessy Garman was the lone Hyak baserunner, getting on after being hit by a pitch and moving over to third on a stolen base and a passed ball in the first inning.
Ocosta 204 61 — 13 10 2
Winlock 200 01 — 3 4 3
Fletcher, Erika Snider (2) and Raffelson; J. Jones and Dunlap.
RBI: Ocosta — Barnum 5, Fletcher 5, Marsh 2. Winlock — J. Jones. Three hits: Ocosta — Barnum, Fletcher. Two hits: Winlock — J. Jones. Home runs: Ocosta — Barnum 2, Fletcher 2. Doubles: Ocosta — Huerta.
Winning pitcher — Erika Snider (walked none; struck out five). Losing pitcher — J. Jones (walked one; struck out three).
