By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

DALLAS, Ore.–  Both Dallas and Silverton brought the energy and focus to both squads’ Mid-Willamette Conference finale against one another.

The Dragons sat a game ahead of the Foxes entering the game, on their Senior Night, and looked to close out the MWC Title outright with a win.  But they knew that Silverton had given them a game back on April 24 in Silverton with the Foxes taking that game 9-7.

Granted, Wednesday’s was a polar opposite of that offensive game as it was all defense.  Sure the bats were there, the Foxes leading in that fashion with 11 to the Dragons four, but Kadence Morrison and her defense limited Silverton to just three runs in the Foxes 3-1 victory over Dallas.  

And it was a 1-0 game until the seventh inning for what it was worth in a game where focus and energy created another fantastic game between two strong 5A programs Wednesday.

“I think that’s what won us the game, our energy was up the whole time and we wanted it really bad.  We went out there and put the pressure on and it went into our favor today,” Brylie Parks said.  “The difference between the first and second (game) was that we’re competing for a league title this time.  The stakes were higher and we wanted it really bad.  We went out there and took it.”

Silverton needed a cushion.  Dallas was slowly chipping away against them, but the Foxes loaded up the bases with no outs.  And just as the Dragons were beginning to shut down the threat with back-to-back outs, a Fielder’s Choice at home and a Pop Out both caught by Jordan Creswell, Hailey Smith drove two home to add to the Foxes lead.  Increasing their lead to 3-0 just when they needed it as they went to the bottom of the seventh inning soon after. 

“It was great, it had to be done.  I was just doing my job.  It was intense, the pressure was good, it’ll definitely drive us into the playoffs to keep our energy going.We had tons of energy, it was definitely what we needed,” Smith said.

They needed that cushion because Dallas began to return the favor with two outs starting with a Clara Woolsey solo home run.  Silverton has won games in these situations before and the Dragons were looking to do the same as they got two on base following Woolsey’s home run.  An error and single helped Dallas put pressure on the Foxes.

Silverton didn’t fold.  McKenzee Peterson forced a Pop Out to end the game, to force a tie on top of the MWC at 16-2.  With the Foxes taking the series over the Dragons, they’ll more than likely take the number-one seed out of the conference going into the postseason.

“It feels really good going into playoffs, we’re seeded very high and we’re going to keep the energy up.  We’re going to play every game like it’s our last,” Parks said.  

Photos By Jeremy McDonald