Tigers roll through Cougars, punch ticket to state

Douglas High School softball doesn’t carry itself with a lot of arrogance coming off a state championship last season, but the Tigers fully expected to be in the Class 5A state tournament at the onset of the season.

They officially punched their ticket to their third consecutive state tournament Friday with a 10-0 win in five innings over Spanish Springs in the regional semifinal at Bishop Manogue.

“That’s been something I’ve expected since sophomore year. That’s just with how competitive I am,” said senior pitcher Talia Tretton of qualifying for state. “That’s my goal. I just want to get to the best that I can be and I feel like state, in high school, is the best you can get to.”

For the Class 5A North regional final, Douglas will face the winner of Spanish Springs or Bishop Manogue, who meet in the consolation final Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

The regional championship will follow at noon. Douglas will have two chances to lock up the regional crown while their opponent will only have one loss to play with.

BESTING LEAGUE FOES TIME AND TIME AGAIN

It’s hard to beat a team three times.

It’s an adage that’s used all the time, but Douglas didn’t face any pressure Friday.

The Tigers had won their first three meetings with the Cougars in the regular season and left little doubt they could do it again, winning by run-rule in the regional semifinal.

Annie Hill plated the first run on an RBI single to right field, giving Douglas a 1-0 in the first inning.

In the third, the Tigers began to impose their will as Talia Tretton doubled off the wall, bringing home Marissa McLelland with the help of a Cougar fielding error.

Two batters later, Lilyann Lee hit a laser out over the right field wall that may have still been gaining in elevation as it cleared the fence.

The two-run blast gave the Tigers a 4-0, but the offense was just getting started.

In the fourth, the dam opened up as Maddie Gooch pelted the first pitch of the frame out over the left field wall.

Tretton smoked her second double of the afternoon to score two more runs, making it 6-0. Lee added an RBI sacrifice fly and Mercedes Covey drove home the 10^th run of the game on a single to right.

“Absolutely. We talk about it from day one. That being one of our goals, we don’t focus on it very hard,” said Glover. “It is absolutely one of our goals to get to the state tournament.”

In two years, it doesn’t seem like there’s been a moment too big for the Tigers.

In the circle, Tretton surrendered just one hit and two other runners on hit-by-pitches. She finished with seven strikeouts, including three in the third inning.

 “They’re very mature for their age. They take the right approach every day,” said Glover. “They understand not to get overhyped and they’re very business-like.”

They’ll look to lock up another regional title tomorrow, but in the meantime Douglas softball can rest satisfied knowing it’ll once again be playing on the final weekend of the season.

“It’s still super exciting that we’re going to state again. It’s a goal we always work for every single season,” said Talia Tretton.

STATE QUALIFIERS

Along with Douglas, the southern Nevada representatives for state are known.

Palo Verde (20-7) beat Coronado (18-6) by a 10-5 final for the Class 5A South regional title, meaning both teams will be in next weekend’s Class 5A state tournament.

(Lilyann Lee steps on home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning of the Tigers' 10-0 win over Spanish Springs in the Class 5A North regional semifinal. / Ron Harpin)