Tiger state title dreams come up short

Douglas High School softball had an uphill battle Saturday, needing to beat Coronado twice in order to secure a second straight state title.

It was the Cougars that defeated the Tigers in the opening game, 4-2, winning their first state title in program history after several state tournament appearances over the last two decades.

For Douglas, it marks the third straight season the Tigers have finished the spring in the state title game.

In 2022, the Tigers took second place. Last season, Douglas won its first state title since 1992. This spring, Douglas once again finished as the state runner-up.

Over the last three seasons, the Tigers have compiled an absurd 95-18-1 win-loss record and have that 2023 state title to boot.

The outgoing nine seniors cap their four-year career with an overall record of 106-25-1 after going 11-7 in a pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign.

COUGARS TAKE LEAD LATE

It was the second time in the state tournament that Coronado had gotten the upper hand after besting Douglas, 8-3, in the opening round.

Talia Tretton led off the contest with a solo home run over the left field fence to give Douglas a 1-0 edge.

The Cougars responded in the second inning, starting the frame with a single, a Douglas error and a walk.

Coronado scored its first run on an RBI fielder’s choice before a second run came across the plate on a wild pitch.

The Tigers needed little time to respond, tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the third when Ava Delaney scampered home on an error.

The 2-2 tie lasted into the bottom of the fifth when Coronado got a solo home run of its own from its sophomore shortstop.

Another Tiger error made it 4-2 as Coronado scored the final run of the game.

As a team, Douglas put together four hits in the championship game and two walks.

Tretton finished with six strikeouts in the circle and one earned run allowed with three walks.