Foxes hang on against Dragons in softball thriller

Dallas catcher Jordan Cresswell attempts to tag out the Silverton runner, who was called safe for the game’s first run. Pitcher Kadence Morrison (no. 2) is backing up the play. Photo by Lance Masterson.

A two-run seventh inning lifted Silverton past Dallas, 3-1, in a Mid-Willamette Conference showdown between two softball powers.

With the win, the Foxes claimed the district title.

Kadence Morrison, the Dallas starting pitcher, held Silverton to one run through six innings, but she was living dangerously. The Foxes stranded 10 runners through the first five innings, and 12 for the game.

Kate Kofstad singled in the fourth to drive in Silverton’s first run.

Three straight singles loaded the bases for Silverton in the seventh. Dallas got the first out on a force at home and the second on a Morrison strikeout. But then a seeing-eye chopper bounced over Morrison and past infielders Madison Ruman and Kaelyn Golden. The hit plated two runners for the Foxes.

Starting pitcher McKenzie Petersen went the distance for Silverton. She threw six scoreless innings before Clara Woolsey drilled a two-out solo home run over the centerfield fence. The next two batters reached base via an error and single. Which brought the winning run to the plate for Dallas, but Petersen got the final out for the win.

Petersen opened the game with four straight strikeouts.

Dallas (16-2, 23-2 overall) lost two games this season, both against Silverton. Dallas fell 9-7 in the teams’ first match-up on April 24.

Silverton’s losses came against ninth-ranked Corvallis and fifth-ranked Lebanon. The non-league losses came against Class 6A West Linn and Jesuit.

The Dragons entered the game ranked first in Class 5A, with the Foxes ranked third.

Playoff softball begins Tuesday. Brackets were not available for this posting.