RICHLAND — T-shirt inscriptions are plenty at softball tournaments, but one seemed to capture the spirit of the Warden Cougars as they went in search of their first 1A state championship at Columbia Playfield in Richland over the Memorial Weekend.

The shirt read, “Win the Day.” But for the Cougars, who had lost just twice during the regular season, it was more like “Survive the Day.” Warden (23-3) lost its first game of the tournament 5-2 on Friday, to eventual state champion Lakeside (20-7) and spent the rest of the tournament, trying to catch up through the consolation bracket, where the energy level finally gave out with 7-0 loss to Castle Rock (17-5) on Saturday in the game to play for third place.

“I’m really proud of them. You lose your first game, then have to battle back and play three games on Friday, then two more today, one more to bring hardware home,” head coach Wes Richins said. “I have nothing but praise for our effort. This one game does not define a season. It was a great season.”

Two years ago Warden went undefeated into the 2B state tournament and finished in the exact same spot. They were hoping to win their first championship at a higher level, but had a curveball thrown at them this week going in.

On Monday (May 21), starting third baseman and team power hitter Jocelyn Chagoya underwent emergency appendectomy surgery and ended up missing everything. Richins moved shortstop Ashlyn Yamane to third and brought Leanne Martinez from right field in to play shortstop. Freshman Alexia Hernandez took Martinez spot in the outfield.

So Richins went into the biggest tournament of the season with an entirely new left side of the infield and a freshman in right field.

“I just told them we were going to control the things we can and play hard,” Richins said. "We just had the one bad inning or we would be bringing home hardware.

Martinez said, “I played infield in eighth grade, so it wasn’t a big jump,” she said. “I think it would be harder going from infield to outfield.”

Castle Rock pitcher Trinity Nausle locked in and the Rockets erupted for six runs in the second inning, four with a two-out rally, to finish with six runs on three hits and three Cougar errors.

But the Cougs made a run at it and that’s what senior Amanda Contreras, who was a freshman on that 2B state tournament team, will remember most.

“I like being a part of team I’ve played on for a long time. It makes you realize working hard and playing together can get you where you want to be,” said Contreras, who along with teammate Jizelle Pruneda, will be going to Mt Hood Community College next fall. “When Joselyn went out, people came to me to be the leader out of the hitting group. I just tried to play my own game and contribute where I could.”

Escamilla was 3-for-4 with a triple. Leanne Martinez went 2-for-4 and Bailey Whitney, who had a nice put out at the plate, stroked a double.

Warden 13, Mt. Baker 2

The Cougars made short work of Mt. Baker (16-8), finishing in five innings under the 10-run rule.

Warden 5, Cle Elum-Roslyn 4

The Cougars (22-2) won their second game of the tournament with a one-run decision over Cle Elum-Roslyn (18-3) to stay alive going into the second day.

Warden 10, South Whidbey 3

Warden (21-2) rebounded to beat South Whidbey (6-11) in the first round in the consolation bracket.

Lakeside 5, Warden 1

The Warden Cougars (20-2) dropped their 1A state tournament opener to Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) (17-7) Friday.