Celts move into softball semis with defensive gem
Lacey Vasas pitches shutout in McNary’s win over Sheldon
The McNary Celtics and Sheldon Irish both averaged over eight runs a game during the regular season. But Friday night, the pitchers and defenses ruled the night, as the host Celts squeezed out a pair of runs on six hits, propelling them to a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals of the OSAA 6A Softball Playoffs.
McNary pitcher Lacey Vasas yielded just five hits, striking out four and walking three to earn the victory. Her counterpart, Sheldon’s Payton Burnham, struck out five and walked just one in taking the loss.
The key offensive inning was the first inning for McNary. Vasas led off with a single, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Aspynn Westby. Catcher Heather Ebner hit a sharp grounder to short, but the throw was high, advancing Vasas to third and Ebner to second.
After Hannah Ebner struck out looking, shortshop Brookelynn Jackson drove the ball into center field, singling home both base runners to make it 2-0. Burnham struck out Kayelee Schwab to end the Celtic rally. It was all McNary would leave.
Sheldon had several opportunities to score. Their best chance came in the fifth inning, when Tori Leyba hit a one-out single to right field. She was followed by Meara Swain, who dropped another hit into center field. After Vasas forced Burnham into a ground out, clean up hitter Kinley Pappas walked to load the bases. But Vasas shut down the rally when Ashlyn Martin struck out looking.
In the Irish’s last chance in the seventh, the Celtics defense was stellar. Hannah Ebner made a scooping catch of a lazy pop fly off the bat of Sheldon’s Olivia Gilhuber. Shortstop Brookelyn Jackson made a back-handed catch of a rocket hit by Tori Layba. And to finish it off, Ebner came up big again, handling a hard hit grounder from Meara Swain to make an unassisted out at first base.
With the win, McNary improves to 24-5. Sheldon fell to 24-6 with the loss. The fourth-seeded Celtics will travel to Tigard for the semifinal round. The top-seeded Tigers shut out Newberg 5-0 on Friday. The start time for next Tuesday’s semi-final game has yet to determined.