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Lady Bulldog catcher Lila Hutchens slides safely into home to score Dayton's first run in their 8-2 loss to Colton, ending their hopes of further post-season fast-pitch play.
Bulldog pitcher Peyton Benavides saw a lot of action in the pitcher's circle this season. Benavides is a freshman and apparently will see plenty of pitching time in the next few years.
Second base Brooklyn Laughery throws to first base Lucy Trump for an out in Dayton's 8-2 loss to Colton in the District Tournament.
Third base Marissa Tupling concentrates on catching a pop fly off of a Colton batter.
WALLA WALLA–It was a tight 1-1 ballgame between the Dayton Lady Bulldogs and the Colton Lady Wildcats here Monday, May 13, but in the bottom of the fifth, Colton counted up a handful of runs to end the 2024 spring campaign at the District Tournament level as the Dayton Lady Bulldog Fast Pitch program returned for the first time in several years.
The Lady Dawgs finish the season 13-5 and were second in the SE 1B Wheat Division.
"This was a really tough loss," commented Head Coach Carly Fabian. "We let a few errors some hits and a home run allow them the lead. We held them in the sixth. We just didn't wake the bats up.
"These girls played their hearts out," Fabian continued. "It was not lack of energy or giving up. I am proud of these ladies."
Taut defense was the order of the day as the game started. Colton's Claire Moehrle walked, stole second and went to third on an error. Dawg pitcher Peyton Benavides struck out Kaydee Heitstuman looking and Kiya Soza went down swinging. Mere Bell popped out to first baseman Lucy Trump.
Dayton drew first blood when Lila Hutchens roped a liner to right to reach and took second on a passed ball. Jersey Slack and Brooklyn Laughery both were fanned by Soza, then Samantha Boggs dropped a Texas Leaguer single into right center, scoring Hutchens. Lucy Trump hit a chopper to the pitcher and was thrown out at first, but the Bulldogs were in front, 1-0.
Colton's first batter walked and Kate Schultheis singled into left with the throw to third in time to tag Kyndra Stout out but leave Schultheis on second. Schultheis got to third and scored on a Dayton error, 1-1.
In the fourth, Colton's Rori Weber hit a grounder, reaching on a Dayton error. But she and Leah Musson were left on base as Dayton's defense retired the side.
In the fifth, Skyla Johnson hit a two-out blooper to right but was stranded by Dayton's third out.
In the bottom of the fifth, a bobble of a hit to the outfield gave Heitstuman an extra base and then Soza whapped the ball over the left-field fence for a 3-1 lead. Colton piled on five more runs to hold an 8-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, K. Tupling struck out but Benavides hit a Texas Leaguer into left followed by Hutchens waiting out the pitcher for a walk and baserunners on first and second.
Jersey Slack's single to left loaded the bases: Benavides at third, Hutchens on second. Brooklyn Laughery's sac fly to center scored Benavides. Samantha Boggs's tap to the pitcher, who threw to first, finished the inning 8-2. The final innings ended without added runs.
In the first district contest, Sunnyside Christian downed the Lady Bulldogs 12-3. "Take away the errors and it changes the game completely," said Fabian.
"Brooklyn Laughery and Marissa Tupling had hard hits," Fabian added. "Marissa snagged some hard hits at third base, getting some big outs.
"Jersey Slack covered a lot of ground in the outfield," Fabian said. "She also showed a lot of drive running the bases. She stole a base on a walk, showing her high-level softball IQ."
The 20-11 win over Tekoa-Rosalia secured the number two position for Dayton going into district.
"The girls had 15 hits," Fabian said. "They were in the zone.
"Kameryn Tupling hit a monster home run. She is a senior that has been a solid team player during her high school softball career," Fabian said. "
Colton 8, Dayton 2 (5-13)
R H E
Col 010 007 0-8 9 0
Day 010 001 0-2 5 5
Battery: Colton-Soza and Bell. Dayton-Benavides and Hutchens, Jones (6).
Hits: Colton-Bell (2b), Heitstuman (3b), Nollmeyer, Schultheis, Soza, Weber. Dayton-Boggs, Hutchens, Johnson, Slack, Benavides (2b).
Sunnyside Christian 12, Dayton 3 (5-7)
R H E
Day 111 000 0-3 4 6
SSC 022 116 0-12 7 2
Battery: Dayton-M. Tupling, Benavides (2) and Hutchens. SSC-Andringa and Clapp.
Hits: Dayton-Benavides, K. Tupling (2b), Laughery, M. Tupling. SSC-Clapp 2, Zoe 2, Fultz, Smeenk, Smeenk.
Dayton 20, Tekoa-Rosalia 11 (4/30)
R H E
TR 220 060 1-11 4 8
Day 761 101 4-20 15 4
Battery: Dayton-Benavides, Trump (3), Benavides (6) and Hutchens, Jones (3), Hutchens (6). TR-Wilkins, Lehn (6) and Lehn, Maley (6).
Hits: Dayton-Hutchens 2, Johnson 2, Slack 2, M. Tupling 2 (3b), Benavides, Dobbs, Jonas (2b), Dobbs (3b), Culley (3b).
Home Run: Dayton-K. Tupling.
