Elma advances in state tournament with mercy-rule win

No. 5 Eagles pour it on No. 12 Naches Valley in 13-3 run-rule victory

By Ryan Sparks • May 23, 2025 3:00 am
CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma sophomore catcher Raelynn Weld (5) slides into third during a 13-3 win over Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.
CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma sophomore catcher Raelynn Weld (5) slides into third during a 13-3 win over Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.

Last season, the Elma Eagles were full of hope entering the 1A State Tournament as a No. 5 seed before suffering a bitter, stomach-churning defeat to bow out of the tournament far sooner than they had hoped.

In Elma’s opening-round game on Thursday, the Eagles made sure history didn’t repeat itself.

Elma rallied from three runs down to rout No. 12 Naches Valley 13-3 at the Columbia Playfields in Richland.

The Eagles (15-7 overall) fell behind after an error followed later in the top of the first by a two-out double from Naches Valley third baseman Emma Snyder drove in the first run of the game.

Elma had a golden opportunity to score in the bottom of the first by loading the bases with no outs, but Rangers pitcher Eden Hayes struck out Ashlynn Weld, Lynsee Bednarik and Keira White to end the threat.

The Rangers (10-14) scored a run in the bottom of the second on the Eagles’ second error of the game to take a 2-0 lead.

Naches Valley rallied to put two on with two outs against Weld in the third and took a 3-0 lead when Hayes drove in Snyder with a single up the middle.

The Eagles broke through against Hayes when White clutched up with a two-out single to drive in shortstop Aubree Simmons to cut the deficit to 3-1.

After Weld pitched a 1-2-3 fourth, the Eagles had none on and two outs before embarking on an epic rally.

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma pitcher Ashlynn Weld pitched six innings to earn the victory in a 13-3 win over Naches Valley at the 1A State Tournament on Wednesday in Richland.

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma pitcher Ashlynn Weld pitched six innings to earn the victory in a 13-3 win over Naches Valley at the 1A State Tournament on Wednesday in Richland.

It started when standout senior outfielder Mia Monroe drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Monroe came in to score on a Simmons single to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2.

Weld was then plunked with a pitch, setting the table for White, who feasted with a ground-ball single to center on the first pitch of the at-bat. Weld and Simmons came in to score on the play to give Elma its first lead of the game at 4-3.

One pitch later, second baseman Kenna Monroe singled to drive in Bednarik for a 5-3 lead.

The Elma offense produced its third-straight single of fourth inning when left fielder Emily Comer shot a hard ground ball to left, driving in White and Kenna Monroe for a 7-3 lead.

The Eagles would pour it on in the fifth with a four-run rally. Catcher Raelynn Weld and Mia Monroe would score on a key Rangers error to go up 9-3 followed two batters later with a Simmons RBI single.

Comer would drive in another run with a two-out single to put Elma up 11-3 after five innings.

That was more than enough for Eagles ace Ashlynn Weld, who retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced after the Rangers scored their third and final run of the game in the third inning.

Elma won in mercy-rule, walk-off fashion when Raelynn Weld led off the sixth with a walk and scored on a one-out single from Simmons. With two outs and Simmons on second, Bednarik singled to drive in Simmons for the 13-3 victory.

The win had special meaning for the fifth-seeded Eagles after having their tournament run cut short a season ago.

“I’m so proud of how far this team has come this year,” Raelynn Weld said. “Our goal was to win the first game so we could redeem ourselves from last year’s loss, and that felt like more than just redeeming it.”

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma’s Keira White heads to third base during a 13-3 win over Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY Elma’s Keira White heads to third base during a 13-3 win over Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.

Ashlynn Weld allowed three runs – one earned – on five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts in six innings pitched to earn the victory.

Simmons had three hits and drove in four runs to lead the Eagles offense, with White also recording a three-hit day for the Eagles.

Comer, Kenna Monroe and Raelynn Weld had two hits apiece, with Raelynn Weld stealing a team-high four bases in the win.

“I am so proud of each and every one of these girls, every single one of us contributed up and down the line up and that is what makes a good team,” Raelynn Weld said. “The feeling of joy after every win on this team is so indescribable. We play for each other and that’s what we did tonight.”

With the victory, Elma will face No. 4 Seton Catholic in the state quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Friday.

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY The Elma Eagles move their placard up the bracket after defeating Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.

CHRYSTAL WELD PHOTOGRAPHY The Elma Eagles move their placard up the bracket after defeating Naches Valley in the first round of the 1A State Tournament on Thursday in Richland.

Naches Valley 111 000 – 3 5 3

Elma 001 642 – 13 14 2

WP: A. Weld (6 IP, 3R, ER, 5H, BB, 10K). LP: Hayes (5.2 IP, 13R, 11R, 14H, 8BB, 5K).

Leading hitters: NV – Hayes (3-3, 2B, RBI); Snyder (1-2, 2B, R, RBI); L. VanWagoner (1-3). Elma – White (3-4, 2B, R, 3RBI); Simmons (3-4, 4R, 4RBI); Comer (2-4, 3RBI); K. Monroe (2-4, R, RBI, SB); Bednarik (2-4, 2R, 2RBI); R. Weld (2-3, 2R, 4 SB); M. Monroe (0-2, 2R, 3BB); A. Weld (0-4, R); Donais (0-2, BB, SB).