Lady Wolverines to play in state championship playoffs

In my eight years of reporting on Lady Wolverine athletics, I have seen some amazing plays, come from behind wins, and unexpected victories.  
 The conclusion of the 2021 Snake River Valley (SRV) Conference District Softball Tournament on May 12 will go into my personal archives as one of those amazing games.
 The Lady Wolverines and the Payette Pirates met on four occasions during the 2021 season.  The two regular season games, as well as the first round of the District Tournament game all ended in favor of the Pirates, but when the stakes were at the absolute highest; when a win punches your ticket to the 3A Idaho State Softball Tournament, and a loss sends you home with a third place “good job”, the Lady Wolverines stepped up in a huge way, brought home the hardware, and extended their post season to a minimum of two more games and a chance at a state title.
 The Lady Wolverines batted first and despite a pair of consecutive fly outs, a single to center field by Ivy Morris and a two-run homer over the right field fence from Tobie Noyer put the Wolverines up 2-0.  
 Whitney Cordes then went to work in the circle and the Pirates countered the Wolverine lead with a pair of hits that was turned into a run.
 A walk for Kali Branstetter and a single down the third base line from Mecarte Olsen couldn’t be converted to any Wolverine runs in the top of the second.  The Pirates, however, were able to score four runs off four hits, two errors and a walk.
 The third inning was a drought for both squads, but a one-run homer by senior, Kali Branstetter, in the top of the fourth inning and a scoreless at-bat for the Pirates with Danica Lockett in the circle, inched the Wolverines closer at 3-5.
 The Lady Wolverines took the lead in the fifth inning starting with a double from Cordes to deep right field. The Pirates made the decision to intentionally walk Noyer, but the plan backfired with a pair of walks for Macy Maloney and Grace Swank, and a hit to left field by Lockett, scored three runs and enabled the Wolverines to take a 6-5 lead over the Pirates.  
 A free base on balls for the Pirates put a runner in scoring position, but the Wolverine defense didn’t allow any runs to come across the plate with a fly out and two groundouts to end the inning and leave the runner stranded.
 In the top of the six inning, Hannah Swank was given a free base on balls. Cordes hit a single to center field and despite a ground out from the pitcher to first base for Ivy Morris, and RBI of H. Swank came across the plate. The Pirates intentionally walked Noyer again, but two outs left Cordes and Noyer stranded.  
 The Wolverines had a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth, but a walk, an error, and two hits scored two Pirate runners and tied the game 7-7.
 With only one regular inning remaining, the Wolverines maintained their composure, dug deep, and capitalized on every opportunity put in front of them.  
 A quick out started the Wolverine at-bat, but Branstetter stepped to the plate and with two strikes on her, she ripped a shot over the center field fence for her second homerun of the day.  
 The third homerun of the day and a long tournament were beginning to show the fatigue on the Pirate pitcher. Two consecutive walks for Olsen and H. Swank and a ground ball to center field from Cordes resulted in a run.  
 Another Noyer intentional walk loaded the bases with Wolverines. Maloney batted in H. Swank and Cordes with a ground ball to deep right field for four runs in the at-bat. Leading 11-7, the Wolverine defense was stellar. Three Pirates stepped to the plate and three Pirates were sent back to the dugout.
 Head Coach, Brad Cordes, commented on his team and the impressive win.
 “Well, they did it!” he exclaimed. “Last week I told my staff and the girls if you do your job, we will come out on top. I preached it every day to them, and they did it!”
 He added, “People always comment to coaches, ‘Good Job’, and I always respond, it’s not us, it’s those student athletes right there. All the time they put in on the off-season in addition to during season is what makes this happen.”  
 Cordes also wanted to take the opportunity to thank all those involved in his team’s success.
 “I want to thank all the parents for all their hard work,” he said. “I don’t know how many times practice would be over and girls are still getting reps from their parents, or they are hitting at one of our local cages or at someone’s house.
 “I know from a parents point-of-view if your daughter loves the game, you will make it happen for them. I would also like to thank our community for their great support. The girls could not have done it without the community support.”
 Whitney Cordes led the Wolverines with three hits and two runs, followed by Kali Branstetter with two hits and two runs. Macy Maloney recorded two hits and one run, while Tobie Noyer had one hit and two runs. Ivy Morris and Mecarte Olsen had one hit and one run apiece, followed by Danica Lockett with one hit and Hannah Swank had two runs.
 The Lady Wolverines will face Filer High School Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Timberline High School.