Trojan Softball Takes 5th at NWAC Championships

The Trojans headed back to the NWAC championship tournament for the 5th time in the last 6 years. It is a four day, 16-team double elimination tournament where teams may have to play as many as three games in one day. Games were slated to begin Friday in Spokane, but a steady rain lead to several delays and eventually postponing the start of the tournament to Saturday.  This put the tournament on an even tighter schedule. EvCC began the tournament vs #7 ranked Southwestern Oregon CC. Trailing 3-4 to SWOCC in the top of the 4th, Everett put up 4 runs of their own to take a 7-4 lead. But the Lakers responded tying the game 7-7 and forcing extra innings. The Trojan bats came alive in the top of the 8th scoring three runs and hanging on to preserve a 10-8 upset win. Coming off of their first playoff win since 2011, the Trojans met a pesky #15 ranked Big Bend team who was coming off of a huge win of their own with a first round upset over #2 ranked Douglas College of Canada. Trailing 2-1 in the 3rd, sophomore Arli Oettel hit a two run home run to give the Trojans a 3-2 lead. Big Bend regained the lead but the Trojan's power hitting responded, this time with sophomore Olivia Berkan, again a 2 run home run giving EvCC a 5-3 lead. EvCC would hold on to win 6-4 thanks to a clutch pitching relief performance from Amanda Lee. The quarterfinal or "Elite 8" round on Sunday began with a high noon matchup vs arch rival Edmonds CC. The Tritons bested the Trojans 4 times earlier this season, but three of those 4 games came down to the final inning and the Trojans came in playing with confidence.  EvCC took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Amanda Lee worked a bases loaded walk. Sophomore pitcher Sydney Taggart would go on to retire 9 straight EdCC batters and pitched a one-hit shutout through 5 innings. The Trojan defense also shined with multiple great plays in the infield by freshman duo Taylor Ardnt (3B) and Megan Dedrick (SS). Everett would hang another run on a Sydney Taggart RBI in the top of the 6th, but Edmonds CC bats came alive just enough in the 6th and 7th innings to score 3 runs off of 2 hits. Edmonds would go on to win 3-2. In the "Final 6" the Trojans met another familiar team from the North Region, Douglas College. In a loser out game, the tensions were high. Douglas struck first in the 2nd inning scoring a run, but EvCC answered with a run of their own right back. The high powered DC offense generated another 5 runs in the 3rd and 4th innings to take a 6-2 lead heading into the final 3 innings. Everett would get 2 runs in the 5th to get back within striking distance down 4-6. It came down to the final at bat with a runner on first for the Trojans and the tying run at the plate, but it would not be and the game & season would come to an end with a final score of 4-6. The 2018 Trojans had a fantastic season, finishing 3rd in a highly competitive North Region, and advancing all the way to the Final 6 in the Championship Tournament. This was the highest finish for the Trojans since placing 2nd back in 2011. Three Trojans were named to the All League teams and Megan Dedrick was named North Region MVP and NFCA All-American. In addition to the on-field achievements the 2018 Trojans had a cumulative team GPA above 3.0 at the end of Winter Quarter and all seven sophomores will be graduating this spring.