Jacob Farmer / jfarmer@yelmonline.com
Somewhere during the middle innings against Mossyrock on Monday, May 12, Rainier head coach Katie Qualls wondered if she was witnessing a repeat of last year’s playoff loss to Ilwaco.
Her team was down 2-0, the same score they lost to the Fishermen by.
“We literally just kept leaving baserunners on,” Qualls said of last year’s knockout defeat. “We just could not push anybody across the plate.”
Rainier’s loss was Ilwaco’s first district playoff victory. It sent the Mountaineers home.
Qualls didn’t want a similar performance against Mossyrock, a team Rainier had already beaten twice during the regular season. But through five innings, that’s exactly what she had gotten.
Despite matching Mossyrock with five hits, Rainier had been unable to drive home any runs, and was on the verge of spoiling a confident performance from Elaina Henry in the circle.
Mia Naval’s leadoff triple in the fifth nearly started the comeback. But two quicks out, a hit-by-pitch and a groundout to short left the Mountaineers with nothing on the scoreboard.
Things started to change when Gracie Lantz began the sixth with a patient at-bat that led to a walk. Lucy Wolfe followed with a groundout, but not before advancing Lantz to second.
Then senior pitcher Erin Cournyer struck out Victoria Garcia.
Just like that, Mossyrock was one out away from retiring the side — and holding their shutout.
But this isn’t last year’s Mountaineers. In fact, many of the players weren’t even on the team, including Ayana Elmstead, who only recently cracked the starting lineup for Rainier.
Elmstead’s slap hit started the two-out rally with a shallow pop fly that ended in an improbable collision between shortstop Taylor Schwartz and second baseman Annika Ball. The error allowed Elmstead to reach first and Lantz to take third. In the next at-bat, Mia Naval took four straight balls to load the bases.
Layla Hill followed with a 0-1 line-drive single to center field, bringing home Lantz and Elmstead to tie the game 2-2.
The previously tranquil Rainier dugout erupted in cheer — and didn’t let up until the game was over. From there, the Vikings began to crack, starting with a hit-by-pitch against Ryleigh Cruse and continuing with a failed pickoff throw, which allowed Naval to score the go-ahead run from third.
Elaina Henry brought in another run with a line drive to left field, and Lantz kept it going with a 2-RBI fly ball to right field. The Mountaineers were suddenly up four runs going into the seventh.
In the final inning, Henry finished things off with three straight outs, none more impressive than her diving, outstretched infield catch that put her completely parallel to the turf.
The third out, a shallow pop-up, went to second baseman Lucy Wolfe, who was thrust into infield duty just weeks ago after Ellyana Henry went down with an injured finger on April 28.
Rainier won the first-round district matchup against Mossyrock by a final of 6-2.
“They don’t ever give up on themselves,” Qualls said after the game. “And they play as a team and I think that’s the most important thing.”
The Mountaineers have come a long way from the squad that only had nine players to begin practice earlier this spring. Qualls said the team played smart when it mattered most, which was impressive given the inexperience of some of her players, including freshman Ayana Elmstead.
“Everybody wants to see Ayana succeed and do well, because she’s just such a fun person who gives her all at practice, and she’s never played before.”
Sophomore Elaina Henry pitched seven complete innings for the Mountaineers, dealing 10 strikeouts and walking one batter, while giving up two runs.
“She’s a competitor,” Qualls said. “And when it comes down to it and she can see it, like, within reach, and this being their first time playing high school ball, I mean, they’ve played competitive ball, (but) I think this has been different for them. It’s just different than a select team. To play with the people that you live around is huge. She steps up in every way she can for this team.”
It’s been an emotional four days for Qualls, who honored seniors Keira Anderson and Brooklynn Swenson before Rainier’s 28-4 blowout win against Winlock on Thursday, May 8. Swenson has had to sit out the season with an injured achilles suffered while playing for the Mountaineers basketball team.
“I think she’s done an amazing job,” Qualls said of her daughter, Swenson. “She hasn’t missed a practice. She hasn’t missed a game. She’s super helpful during games and during practices.”
Swenson, who started physical therapy about a month ago, said showing up to softball every day gave her something to take her mind off things.
“And my mom was here, so it was super nice to spend time with her and just made it super easy to show up,” Swenson said. “Like, there wasn’t anything else that I had going on, so it was just easy to show up and come here and celebrate everyone’s success.”
The Mountaineers will look for more success when they face Pacific 2B champions Pe Ell-Willapa Valley in the District 4 quarterfinals at Fort Borst Park on Wednesday, May 14, at noon.
