Portland, OR – The most prolific offense in the history of Everett Community College Softball entered the 2023 NWAC Softball Tournament as the #10 seed from the latest RPI rankings and showed everyone that they were among the best in the NWAC.
In the first game of the 16-team, double elimination tournament, Everett drew #7 Columbia Basin, the only team in the NWAC that had a higher team batting average and run scoring threat. The Hawks got things going early while Everett uncharacteristically struggled at the plate and the Hawks out hit the Trojans 11-4, winning the opening game of the tournament 8-0.
The loss seemed to awaken the inner beast and the Trojans returned the favor later in the day defeating Centralia 8-0 in a loser out game. Savanna Ah Mook Sang-Frank went 3 for 3 and drove in 2 runs to lead the way offensively and freshman Avery Olson also had three hits, including a double, scored a run and drove in a run. Isabelle Hansen and Ivane Aholelei each hit home runs, something that this year's team was especially known for. Sophomore pitcher Serina Penrod got things done in the circle going 5 innings and giving up just two hits, both of which were limited to singles.
After splitting on the first day, Everett would need to win three straight games the next day on Friday to keep the season alive. Treasure Valley, a team that Everett lost to earlier in the year 10-9, was the first game of the day, and after two scoreless top halves of the inning, EvCC found themselves trailing 1-0. But the bats came alive in the 3rd, pushing across 5 runs all via the long ball. Leiloa Bustamante connected for a three run blast, and Isabelle Hansen hit her second home run of the tournament for a two run shot. The Chukars got back a run in the 3rd, but from then on it was all Trojans. Seven runs in the 5th sealed the deal and Everett went on avenge the earlier season loss and advance to the Final 8. Bustamante finished the game with 3 hits and 5 RBI's, Madison German hit her 4th grand slam of the season, and freshman Avery Olson and Alli Wilson each had three-hit ball games. Freshman pitcher Morgan Epperson had a fantastic game, going 5 innings and giving up just the five hits and two runs.
EvCC would face red-hot Wenatchee Valley in the 2nd game of the day. The Knights, like Everett lost in the first game of the tournament, but bounced back to win their next two and eliminate Edmonds 19-16, and Lower Columbia 18-3. No other team had scored that many runs in a two game stretch during the tournament, but starting pitcher Serina Penrod was not intimidated. Wenatchee got a run in the first inning, however Serina settled in to pitch three consecutive shutout innings. That stretch allowed Everett to build a 3-2 lead thanks to Avery Olson's RBI double in the 2nd, and RBI singles from Isabelle Hansen and Ivane Aholelei in the 3rd. Wenatchee generated some offense with 2 runs in the 5th and 6th, but Everett was able to keep the cushion by scoring one in the 5th and two in the 6th. The Trojans tacked on one more insurance run in the 7th with Ivane Aholelei's lead off solo home run, and Epperson came in to close the door in the bottom of the 7th, striking out the first batter, and then overcoming a walk to get the final two outs and send EvCC onto the Final 6 for the second straight season.
The third game of the day, also happened to be in the heat of the day, which clearly took its toll on EvCC. The Cardinals were benefactors in two wins to start out the tournament, and dropped down to face Everett after their 4-0 loss to Southwestern Oregon CC (the eventual NWAC Champions). NIC was playing their second game of the day while Everett on it's third showed signs of fatigued. Everett did score first to open up the top of the first inning, but NIC responded with three runs in the 1st and nine more in the 2nd to put the game out of reach. The Cardinals went on to win 18-2. Five Trojans recorded hits in their final game at EvCC. Jordyn Lono led the way with two hits, one of which was a double, Isabelle Hansen hit her 121st career RBI (the most in EvCC program history) in her final game, Ivane Aholelei recorded her 58th career hit, and Madeline German got her 54th hit of the season and 103rd of her career, good enough for 5th all-time at EvCC.
Several Trojans were awarded post season accolades including 2nd Team All North Region Kayla Tuaoa, Savanna Ah Mook Sang-Frank, All North Region First Teamers Serina Penrod, Isabelle Hansen, Jordyn Lono, Leiloa Bustamante, Ivane Aholelei, and Maddie German was awarded the North Region's Most Valuable Player.
In addition to putting a stamp on 2023, many of these Trojans will go down in history as some of the very best to wear an EvCC uniform.
- 3.81 career ERA currently ranks 8th all time.
- 54 hits (5th most in a single season at EvCC), and 13 doubles to add to her career total of 33 which ranks as the most all time at EvCC. She also drew a total of 43 career walks which ranks 3rd all time in a career and her .491 batting average ranks 4th all time in a single season. 12 home runs in a single season is also tied for 5th most.
- Career runs scored (2nd all time with 97), hits (3rd all time with 126, RBI's (tied for 5th all time with 83) and has the most career triple (8) and singles (87).
- Career Runs Scored 95, 3rd most all time at EvCC, 60 hits tied for 5th most in a single season, 127 hits 2nd most in a career at EvCC, 68 singles 5th most in a career, and 17 home runs ties the most in a single season, along with 33 home runs as the most in a career. She also has the most career RBI's with 121.
- Has the most career at bats (315), the most career runs scored (100), and the most career hits (128). 42 singles ranks as the 4th most in a single season at EvCC and 86 career RBI's also ranks as the 4th most at EvCC.
- Madison German has the most career games, nearly all of them behind the plate as a catcher with 97 total games. 85 career runs is 4th most all time, 103 career hits is 5th most, 20 career home runs is tied for 3rd most, and 14 home runs in a season is tied for 2nd most. Her 99 career RBI's rank 2nd most as EvCC as does her single season RBI mark of 63 and her career stolen base mark of 22.
- Cracked the top 10 in single season runs (47), single season home runs (12), career home runs (14), single season RBI's (5), single season stolen bases (8), and career stolen bases (11).
Savanna Ah Mook Sang Frank
- Made the top ten list in career batting average .401
- Freshman Avery Olson found her way onto the top 10 with 16 doubles (tied for 5th in a single season at EvCC).
As a team just about every single season offensive stat category was broken, despite playing 18 less games than the 2007 team that finished first in the region. The .428 team batting average is a program high along with 428 runs scored, 485 hits, 101 doubles, 405 RBI's, and an astounding 70 home runs, shattering the previous team high by 18.
Eight sophomores will graduate from this year's team that also boasted a team GPA of 3.27 and ten individuals made the academic honor roll with GPA's above 3.2.