Defeating an opponent more than once in the same season, as the Skyview slowpitch team learned, is easier said than done. How about four times? To clear that bar, the Storm clawed back from multiple deficits against an imposing Union team to win the Class 4A district championship best-of-three series on Wednesday at Evergreen High School, seemingly having an answer for each challenge the Titans threw their way. Skyview forced extra innings in game one and ultimately claimed an 8-7 win in walk-off fashion when Nivayah Henry scored the winning run following a Union error.
In game two, despite playing catch up for all of the first six innings, Skyview drove in two unanswered runs in the seventh on RBI singles from Kenzie Lakin and Taylor Lies. Upon catching the final out to claim a 5-4 win and the district championship, Skyview players ran to the infield, embracing each other with hugs and ear-to-ear grins. Still in the back of their minds were losses to Union in last year’s district championship and state tournament, which made these two wins (in addition to two in the regular season) feel extra sweet for the Storm.
“It was really amazing, honestly,” Lies said. “Union has been our biggest competition for four years. Everyone came together in this last game to push through,” The Storm (17-1) have won seven straight going into next weekend’s 4A state tournament Oct.
25-26 in Yakima. Building toward one of their most successful seasons in program history has involved p.