Dayton softball qualifies for state

DAYTON -- The Dayton High School softball team advanced to the 3A state tournament for the first time in five years with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Spring Creek Spartans that went down to the wire Saturday morning.

Natalie Malekos scored on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Dust Devils a sweep in the best-of-three playoff series to qualify for the 3A state tournament.

Defense was the difference in the game, which was dominated by pitchers Nicole Greer of Dayton and Spring Creek's Katie Brunson, who gave up a combined 11 hits, seven strikeouts and only one walk. Greer had a nearly flawless Lady Dust Devil defense behind her, resulting in two double plays and a handful of crowd-pleasing catches. On the other hand, Spring Creek's defense hindered Brunson's otherwise stellar performance -- both of Dayton's runs were unearned. Greer and Brunson also pitched in Dayton's 2-0 win Friday.

After the game, Dayton coach Dusti Houk commended her team's play in the field.

"The defense was solid," Houk said. "They backed up Nicole really well and stepped up and made plays when they needed to."

The defensive theme of the game was set right from the start, when Dayton center fielder Jessie Ayres caught a lined shot and then doubled up the Spartan runner at first base to end the top of the first inning. In the Lady Dust Devils' ensuing at bat, leadoff hitter Keeli Garcia reached on an error by the third baseman and later scored on a double by catcher Lacy Taylor.

Greer had her only setback in the game in the third inning, when Spring Creek's designated hitter Cisca Moore doubled and later scored on a single by shortstop Lea Wetzel.

Both pitchers kept the opposing team's offense quiet until the final inning. In the sixth, Dayton had a good opportunity to take the lead after the Spring Creek's center fielder dropped a fly ball hit by Greer, but Brunson got out of the jam.

However, she was unable to do it again the following inning.

After a leadoff hit by Dayton shortstop Kaitlen McKinnon, the Lady Dust Devils attempted two bunts but could not advance the runner. First baseman Rachel Hurt followed with a single, moving Malekos, who had reached base on a fielder's choice after her bunt, to second. That brought up Taylor, who was batting 2 for 3 and had driven in Dayton's only run. It turned out she wasn't needed.

An errant throw by catcher Amanda Wild trying to throw out Malekos at third brought her home, giving Dayton the win and the North's top seed for the 3A state tournament.

"I was just thinking 'Oh my God!'," Houk said when recalling her reaction to the throw. "I knew she was going to score and that we were going to win. It's just an unexplainable feeling. I've never felt it as a coach before."

Houk now is focusing her attention on getting the team ready for the state tournament.

"We need to fine tune our base running and work on not bunting the ball to our opponents," she said.

"We're playing well right now. I don't know what the South has or who who else is coming from the North, but we're confident."

The Dust Devils are now 28-4-1 overall for the season and have won 17 of their last 18 games.