Kyle Axelson

SELAH – What a difference a year made for the 2009 Burlington-Edison Tigers fastpitch softball team.

A year ago, the Tigers walked off the field as the Othello Huskies celebrated after defeating B-E to win the 2A state fastpitch championship. A much different ending played out for essentially the same Tigers players Saturday afternoon at Carlon Park in Selah when Burlington-Edison celebrated after defeating the Ellensburg Bulldogs 5-1 to win the 2009 state 2A title.

B-E pitcher Lindsey Dawson charged forward to field a softly hit ground ball by Ellensburg’s Kelsey Bailes, and with the rest of the Tigers’ defense rushing in to celebrate, Dawson tossed the ball to Rachelle Berry at first base to record the final out of the championship game.

At that moment, coaches and reserves rushed the field to celebrate with the Burlington-Edison starters, who helped garner the second softball championship in school history and the first since 1987. This was the first fastpitch championship for B-EHS.

Dawson struck out 11 Bulldogs and made a diving catch of a short pop-up in the fifth inning when Ellensburg had a runner on second base - the only inning the Bulldogs scored. Dawson also walloped a three-run home run to deep center field with two-outs in the bottom of the fifth.

Prior to that, Rachelle Berry drove in Ashlynn Ishikawa from second for the Tigers’ second run. Ishikawa had reached base on a lead-off single to spark Burlington-Edison’s four-run inning.

Dawson was outstanding throughout the tournament on both offense and defense. Along with blasting her team’s only home run of the state tournament, she had four singles, two doubles, and scored two runs. On the mound, Dawson struck out 37 and gave up just nine hits at state.

Rachel Tingley scored twice in the title game after getting on base with a lead-off double to start the game and a single in the Tigers’ magic fifth. Rachelle Berry capped a great season by hitting .500 at the state tournament, recording six hits, and was the only Tiger player to score at least one run in each of the four tournament games.

Jasmine Rigelman also played exceptionally for Burlington-Edison, collecting six base hits with three RBIs. Rigelman added seven spectacular defensive put-outs, which included diving catches, running out-of-play to catch foul balls, and throw-outs from her third base position to go with her great performance at the plate.

Along with Rigelman, other Tiger seniors going out on top along include shortstop Amy Entrikin, center fielder Rachel Tingley, right fielder Ashlynn Ishikawa and first baseman Rachelle Berry.

The other members of the 2A state champion Burlington-Edison Tigers: catcher Jessica Tingley, second baseman Samantha Rigelman, left fielder Holly Bradley, Samm Alex, Melissa Solis, Chloe Robinson, Gabby Panetti, Ryleigh Swagerty, Jessica Sligar and Brie Lopez. Coaches: Head coach Darcy Taylor, Justin McGrew, Kyle Axelson, John McDermott, and student manager Ritchie Ortiz.

Dawson was outstanding throughout the tournament on offense and defense. With the bat, she cracked four singles, two doubles, scored two runs and had the team’s only home run of the tournament. While pitching, Dawson struck out 37 opponents, walked 14 and gave up just nine hits at state.