Four-year-old Sienna Swain wasn't going to be denied a hug from her cousin, Brittany Puzey.
Even with all the celebration going on, Swain made it through the sea of humanity until she was finally picked up by Puzey. Swain is a Tiger at heart. She never gave up.
There were plenty of examples of heart by a Douglas softball team that made an improbable run to the Northern 4A title, winning six games over two days. The Tigers' magic carpet ride ended on a fitting note - right fielder Kristy Olson laying out to make a diving catch and then turning it into a double play as the Tigers beat McQueen 11-10.
It was a stunning comeback to a stunning day for Douglas, which won three one-run games for the title. The Tigers stayed alive with a 2-1 win over Reno High, then beat McQueen 3-2 to force another game for the title.
In the finale, Douglas overcame an 8-0 deficit. It was also sweet redemption for the Tigers as Douglas paid back McQueen for last year. The Lancers overcame a huge deficit late against Douglas when it appeared the Tigers were on the verge of earning a berth into the NIAA State Championships.
But the Tigers will be going to state this year along with McQueen where they will open play on Friday at Carson High.
Puzey was the winning pitcher in the title clincher, somehow reaching down for a little extra when it appeared she had nothing left. She also came through with the game-winning hit.
Kayla Dunn sparked the rally with a three-run home run and also came up with arguably the biggest hit of the day, which was almost forgotten after seven hours of softball. Dunn got the game-winning hit that gave Douglas a 2-1 win over Reno and clinched a state berth. Val Smith also had a three-run home run that was the difference in the 3-2 win over the Lancers.
Puzey pitched brilliantly in picking up the win against Reno and Kellei Kizer was the winning pitcher in the 3-2 win over McQueen. Without Dunn, who was unable to pitch due to a sore wrist, Douglas went through virtually the whole tournament with on Puzey and Kizer on the mound.
Dunn is expected to be available on the mound for state. "Our two pitchers just did a phenomenol job," Douglas coach Todd Wilcks said.
Puzey was hit for six runs in less than two innings in the final game of the day. "She just didn't have the pop she had the first game," Wilcks said.
After Douglas mounted a comeback, Puzey reentered with the score 8-6 in the top of the fifth inning. Puzey allowed a two-run single to make it 10-6, but then she buckled down. With runners at second and third and no outs, Puzey got out of the jam with no more damage.
With one out and a runner at second in the seventh, Olson made her play, making a diving catch and throw to second to double up the runner for her title-winning double play.
"That was amazing," Puzey said. "She's a stud, going all out. She save my life, I'll tell you that much.
"My arm is really sore, but I really didn't want to lose. We played with a lot of heart. I knew I had to shut them down."
"I had just an instant to dive for it," Olson said. "Everybody was yelling, 'two, two, two,' so that's where I threw. It's something that you don't forget ever."
Douglas pounded out six of its 15 hits in the fourth as it began the comeback. Missy Kaplan and Kaitlin Crawford each singled and Kaycee Wilcks followed with an RBI single. Olson walked to force in a run. McQueen ace Katie Eshelman, who went the distance in the 3-2 loss, entered to put out the fire, but she appeared to be running out of gas as well. She walked Olson to force in a run before Puzey hit into a fielder's choice that brought in another run.
Dunn then sent a bomb well over the left centerfield fence to close Douglas to within 8-6. Dunn and Val Smith walked to force in runs that made it 10-8 in the fifth. In the sixth, Kaplan singled, Wilcks walked and Olson hit an RBI single. Puzey followed with a two-run double that made it 11-10.
Olson had three hits, Kaplan, Puzey, Dunn and Stevie Smith all had two hits and Stevie Smith also had a double.
Against Reno, Crawford began the winning rally in the bottom of the seventh when she was hit by a pitch, Wilcks singled and pinch runner Tish Luken and Wilcks moved to second and third on Olson's sacrifice bunt. Puzey was intentionally walked to load the bases for Dunn.
Dunn was ahead in the count 3-0 before Reno ace Stephanie Shuman fought back to make the count 3-2. Dunn fouled off three pitches before hitting a line drive to left to score Luken with the winning run.
"Definitely against Reno because that put us in state right there," said Dunn about that being the biggest hit. "Definitely that was the biggest hit of the tournament."
Puzey had two hits and Jessie Kizer and Crawford each added a hit for Douglas against Reno.
The Tigers winning rally in the first game against McQueen came in the third when Wilcks singled. Puzey appeared to hit a two-run shot over the left field wall, but she settled for a double that was knocked down by the wind. The wind died down enough for Val Smith to launch her three-run shot that gave Douglas a 3-0 lead.
Val Smith had two hits and Stevie Smith, Olson, Kaplan and Jessie Kizer all added hits for Douglas.
Contact Charles Whisnand at chwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214.
