Perfect.
Undefeated Archbishop Murphy won back-to-back 2A District 1 championships with a 3-1 win over Nooksack Valley on May 20 at Janicki Fields.
The Wildcats scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth when Kaitlin Duffy came through with an infield single to score Patti Reeves from third. Reeves had advanced on a passed ball.
Nooksack Valley protested the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on the look-back rule. The Pioneers contended that Duffy waited too long to return to first base after Erika Ramstead was in the pitcher’s circle. The protest was denied by the umpires and tournament director.
The Pioneers had a chance to tie the score in the sixth inning when Amanda Tevelde led off with a triple, but they could not capitalize and left her stranded.
In the bottom of the sixth, Archbishop Murphy had four consecutive singles and tacked on an extra run.
Kaitlyn Kennedy finished off the Pioneers in order in the seventh to clinch the victory for the Wildcats and a No. 1 seed to state.
“Nooksack’s a very talented team, a strong-hitting team, we knew that coming in and it was a close game and to come out on top we are extremely happy,” Archbishop Murphy coach Brad Johnson said.
In the fourth inning, Duffy led off with an infield single and Blair Hardy moved her to third on a single up the middle. Duffy scored on a passed ball.
“Kaitlin Duffy was a big one today offensively,” Johnson said.
In the top of the fifth inning, Nooksack struck back. Jessica Wilburn led off with an infield single and Lesley Anker sacrificed her to second with a bunt. The Pioneers scored when the shortstop made an error.
“We knew they were a strong team coming into the game and they had better pitching then we have seen and we were prepared,” Hardy, the Archbishop Murphy catcher, said.
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