Dragons’ bid for second title ends in semifinals

Kaelyn Golden (no. 00) and the Dallas softball team congratulates Lebanon after the Warriors ended the defending champion’s season. The fourth-seeded Warriors now meet Bend in the Class 5A title game on Saturday. Photo by Lance Masterson.

The Dallas softball team’s bid for a second consecutive state title ended with a 3-1 loss to Lebanon on Tuesday.

Tatum Cole led the Warriors, from the plate and from the mound. Her two-run blast in the third inning proved to be the game-winning hit. As starting pitcher she kept the Dragons’ bats in check for seven innings.

Ruby Halligan plated the Dragons’ only run with a two-out sixth-inning single. But Cole escaped any further damage by getting the third out with the bases full.

Gen Osburg doubled in Lebanon’s first run and scored moments later on Cole’s blast.

The Warriors meet Bend, which got past Silverton in the other semi-final matchup, on Saturday for the Class 5A state title.

Pitcher Kadence Morrison took the loss for Dallas. She pitched well, outside of giving up the three runs in the third inning.

This marked conference-foe Lebanon’s first win against the Dragons (16-2, 23-3 overall) in three meetings this season.