Next up, it’s West Albany on Friday

Brook Dunkin and the Dragons defeated Rex Putnam, 5-0, to win Tuesday’s opener in the Class 5A state softball tournament. Dallas advances to host West Albany, 5 p.m., on Friday. Photo by Lance Masterson.

It’s one down and three wins to go if the Dallas softball team is to repeat as state champion.

The girls got off to a fast start by blanking Rex Putnam, 5-0, in the opener of the Class 5A staff playoffs.

Starting pitcher Kadence Morrison was dominant throughout Tuesday’s contest for the number-one seed.

Next up is a rematch against conference foe West Albany, 5 p.m., Friday, at home. The Bulldogs (12-6, 19-8 overall) have yet to score against Dallas this season, having lost 6-0, 4-0 to the Dragons earlier.

Overall, it was a good day for the reputation of the Mid-Willamette Conference (MWC), as four of its six teams advanced to the quarterfinals. West Albany defeated Eagle Point, Lebanon got past La Salle Prep and Silverton routed Ridgeview.

As for the conference’s other two qualifiers, second-seed Bend got past Central/Falls City, 6-1, and Wilsonville edged Corvallis.

Dallas went 16-2 in MWC play, and 23-2 overall.

In baseball, Central fell to Thurston, 10-0.

Crescent Valley and West Albany won their games, but meet each other in the next round.

Both Central squads were eliminated from tournament play with their loss. As were Lebanon and Corvallis in baseball.