Galena still alive in state softball

LAS VEGAS - Douglas High School went out in two games at the NIAA/U.S. Bank State 4A Softball Tournament on Wednesday, but Galena lived to play another day with a gritty win in 11 innings.

Galena beat Reed 3-2 in 11 innings in the late game to survive its losers' bracket contest. The Grizzlies had lost their first round game 4-1 to Durango, and now they face the loser of Wooster-Centennial at 3 p.m. today.

Meanwhile, Douglas fell 5-1 to Centennial in the first round, then 4-1 to Eldorado in the second round to bow out of the tournament. The surprise of the Northern 4A Region tourney, the Tigers simply couldn't muster the offense when they needed it.

Wooster, perhaps the best team in the state with only two losses this season, was the only Northern Region winner in the first round.

Galena rapped out eight hits in its loss to Durango, but Grizzly batters couldn't take advantage of them, scoring only one run in the sixth inning. Durango put all the pressure on Jen Molinari, scoring one run in the first and three more in the third.

Brooke Holland had two hits, while Teresa Miller, Abby Parker, Keri Schlosser, Angela Volpp and Kirsten Drury all had one for Galena.

The Grizzlies came back in the second game, getting a run in the bottom of the 11th on Molinari's single to edge Reed in extra innings.

Abby Parker got a one-out base hit in the 11th, then moved up on a wild pitch before Molinari punched one through the hole to right field to drive in the winning run.

Miller was 2-for-5, while Schlosser had two hits in the game.

Douglas had a tough first-round game against Centennial. The Tigers drew one walk and had five hits, but they also struck out 13 times against Centennial's ace.

Douglas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but Centennial got two in the bottom of the inning, another in the fifth and two more in the sixth off Tarrah Kizer, who pitched a complete game.

Michelle Roza was 1-for-3 with a double in that game.

Kizer went the distance in the second game as well, as Eldorado tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first, then added three more in the fifth.

Kizer had two hits, while Allie Walling, Lindsey Rollins, Roza, Jeanette Holt and Jen McCrosky all picked up one.