Bulldogs Beat Defending Champions in 11 Innings

It took 34 innings, but Willamina finally beat Valley Catholic again. On April 20, 2007, Caralyn Chewning and the Bulldogs defeated Sami Picken and the Valiants 2-1. Since then the Valiants haven’t lost to a 3A opponent, with a 2-1 10 inning loss to 4A tenth ranked Gladstone being their only blemish this season. And Picken shut out Willamina 1-0 in last year’s second meeting, and again in the OSAA State Title game, 6-0.

On April 7^th. of this year, Chewning shut out the Valiants for eight innings, but Picken and the Valiants again went Willamina one better, and Valley won 1-0 in nine innings.

Thursday in Willamina, the two teams and their aces tangled again, and after the seven innings of regulation had passed, neither team had been able to beat the opposing ace, and it was still 0-0.

After the eighth inning, it was still 0-0. And after the ninth inning too, taking the battle deeper than ever before.

In the top of the tenth inning, VC finally got to Chewning enough to take a 1-0 lead. But the Bulldogs answered in kind, and forced an eleventh inning!

Valley again took the lead, but Chewning held the Valiants to only a single run, and then the Bulldogs doggedly went after Picken again.

Willamina loaded the bases, and Jessica Brown banged out a single to drive in the game tieing run, leaving things knotted at 2-2. And rather than face a twelfth inning, Bulldog catcher Catrina Shell finally put Willamina over the top. Shell’s hard hit grounder to shortstop was too hot to handle without a bobble, and the delay was just enough time for Brianna Anderson to score the winning run.

Picken allowed only four hits and two walks while striking out 14 Bulldog batters, but took the loss for Valley. Chewning allowed five hits and two walks, and struck out 12, but also overcame three Willamina errors, to claim the hard fought win in the circle.

The win improved Willamina’s record to 17-4, and 11–1 in the West Valley League, and dropped Valley Catholic to 18-2, 10-1 in the West Valley.

Valley Catholic 000 000 000 11 - 2 5 1

Willamina 000 000 000 12 – 3 4 3

Picken (L) and Baglai; Chewning (W) and Shell. 2B – Bowman (W).

CC

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