Trojans Advance!

Portland, OR - The Trojans opened up the 2025 NWAC Championship tournament with a pair of wins on Thursday, defeating Yakima Valley 5-1 in the opening round and then coming from behind in extra innings to defeat Centralia 11-10 in the second game of the day.  The #5 seeded Trojans showed grit and resiliency to advance to the Final 6 and a date with #7 Walla Walla who finished second in the East Region.  

In the first game against YVC, Everett did most of their offensive damage in the second inning. Ava Puaatuua sparked the offense with a clutch RBI single  (and later tripled in the game, finishing with two hits, a run, and an RBI).  Later on in the inning Renee Riggins had the bases loaded and hit a hard grounder to third.  She may have beat out the throw anyway but it sailed past the first basemen's glove and the bases cleared to give Everett a 4-0 lead.

Alissa Hermansen (who was named NFCA All American later on in the day) was stellar in the circle, tossing a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts and no earned runs allowed. The offensive production was spread around with contributions from Taryn Takayoshi, Olivia Boures, and Kenidee Holden, who added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Despite solid defensive efforts, Yakima Valley couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities, managing just one run off a single by Linnea Butler. The 5-1 win propelled EvCC into the second game of the day.

Everett faced off against #14 Centralia who just came off a big upset win over #3 Southwestern Oregon.  The Trailblazers were still riding the high, and put up three runs on EvCC in the top of the first inning. Starting pitcher Ava Hernandez who pitched a complete game against SW Oregon, stayed in the circle and had the Trojans shut out until the bottom of the third.  Trailing 4-0, EvCC finally got some offense going on an Emmajoy Wise three-run home run. 

Just as it appeared as though Everett would seize back momentum, Centralia erupted for four runs in the 4th. Starting pitcher Taryn Takayoshi was taken out of the game with the bases loaded and replaced by Hermansen, but she was unable to limit the damage. All three runs came in to score, and Hermansen was also tagged with an earned run.  EvCC was unable to answer in the 4th, but sophomore Ava Puaatuua took over and pitched a three inning shutout gem.  In that span, the Trojans found the spark they needed in the bottom of the 5th scoring five runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Taryn Takayoshi and and Olivia Boures three-run bomb.  

Centralia finally got to Puaatuua in the top of the 8th giving up a two run home run, but offensive picked her up in the bottom half. Gracie Salverda singled and Renee Riggins was hit by pitch setting up an Emma Hansen double that drove in a run.  One batter later Emmajoy Wise delivered a sac fly RBI that nearly left the yard, scoring Riggins and advancing Hansen to third.  Taryn Takayoshi, who did not have her best pitching day, more than made up for it, delivering a walk off single that ignited the Trojan faithful.  

She finished the game with two hits and 3 clutch RBI's, while Hansen and Salverda each had 3 hits.  Emmajoy Wise had 4 RBI's and Boures had the big home run that brought in 3 runs.  Ava's performance in the circle (4 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 strikeouts) might have been the most crucial of the game.

Everett will advance to face Walla Walla on Friday at 12:30.  The Warriors defeated Bellevue 10-5 and then took care of another north region opponent, Olympic 10-8. The winner will advance to play on Saturday for a guaranteed spot in the final 3, while the loser will play later in the day in a loser out game.