Auburn Riverside Fastpitch Invitational: Big or small school, it doesn't play favorites

Score one for combined-program 2B Pe Ell-Willapa Valley, which hands 2A Enumclaw a 2-1 loss Friday

AUBURN, Wash. - The cool meet-and-greet aspect about the early-season Auburn Riverside Fastpitch Invitational - it doesn't matter where you come from or what level at which you play.

It is a showcase of ballers.

And the two-weekend event kicked off Friday with Class 2A state participant Enumclaw against combined-schools Pe Ell-Willapa Valley, which captured the 2022 WIAA championship in the Class 2B ranks.

The Titans won it, 2-1, on a walk-off run-scoring single from Jillian Hodel in the seventh inning.

"Everything I talked to the girls about - it doesn't matter who we play. It is just nine girls named 'Sally' who play softball," PWV softball coach Eric Hopfer said. "It's just play our game, do the best we can, execute the defense we need to - and hit the ball."

And while this early-season showdown of ranked teams - Enumclaw is No. 8 in 2A; PWV is No. 5 in 2B - developed into a low-scoring grinder, the Hornets thought hey had delivered the late jolt to win it.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the seventh inning, Alyssa Harris - Enumclaw's ace pitcher who started the game as a reserve - came up as a pinch hitter.

And a couple of pitches later, Harris sent a towering two-run home run over the fence in left field.

But Hopfer noticed something that doesn't happen often in games - Harris was never formally substituted into the batting lineup.

The home-plate umpire agreed - and not only ruled Harris out, but the two runs came off the scoreboard.

Afterward, Enumclaw softball coach Quinn Haney took responsibility for the mistake, noting it was a learning lesson.

PWV took advantage of the error, and scored the game-winning run on Hodel's sharp grounder past Enumclaw shortstop Bella Aubrey, scoring Kylee Lyons with the game-winner.

Later Friday, PWV upended reigning Class 3A champion Peninsula, 14-4, in five innings.

Photo by Todd Milles

Photo by Todd Milles

Photo by Todd Milles

Photo by Todd Milles

Photo by Todd Milles