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'It was almost surreal:' 87 runs scored in Washington high school softball game

There were 92 total hits in Almira-Coulee-Hartline's 48-39 win over Inchelium on Friday — a four-hour game in eastern Washington between ranked Class 1B programs

The bats were so alive and the outs were so scarce that Graham Grindy nearly ran out of adjustments to make as Almira-Coulee-Hartline and Inchelium traded blows into the 10th inning on Friday.  

After four hours, the Warriors of ACH beat Inchelium in a high-scoring, rub-your-eyes-to-verify high school softball game on Friday, 48-39. 

Yes, you read that right: 48-39. There were so much offense, several stat-keeper's books contradicted one another. The game lasted so long that the second game in the double-header was called early due to darkness.

“I walked away going ‘that’s probably one of the more memorable things I’ve ever been a part of,’ " said Grindy, the Warriors' head coach.

In total, 85 runs were scored and just three strikeouts between the two eastern Washington class 1B schools, both in the top five of SBLive's state power rankings.

(SBLive's 2022 early-season Washington high school softball rankings: Who are the top teams in each classification?)

Inchelium (6-2) led 14-3 after the first inning, then ACH (12-0) responded with eight runs at the top of the second inning. Down two entering the seventh inning, ACH unleashed another eight-run frame and Inchelium bit back with six runs to force extra innings.

"It was really exciting early on, especially after seven innings," Grindy said. "Once we got into extras, people got tired. The energy went down. Like 'we've got another game to play after this?' "

That energy came from the players, who continued to rally and make plays, even after costly mistakes. 

Senior Desiree Schmauder went 9 of 10 at the plate, had six RBI and a game-saving catch at the fence to send the game to the tenth inning.

Senior outfielder Desiree Schmauder went 9 of 10 at bat with six RBI and made a game-sealing catch late in the ninth inning. 

Senior outfielder Desiree Schmauder went 9 of 10 at bat with six RBI and made a game-sealing catch late in the ninth inning. 

Inchelium was led by Isabella Finley's eight hits on nine at-bats and Torrence Finley, who went 6 of 7 at bat with six RBI and also started in the circle.

Per Northeast 1B League rules, teams start with a runner on second if the game reaches the ninth inning. That helped the Warriors unleash 10 runs in the top of the tenth to pull away.

"It was almost surreal," Grindy said. "We would go down five and you didn’t feel like you were out of the game. Like, we could make up five runs. We’ve been doing that all game. That’s not normal."

Both teams rotated three pitchers. Grindy rotated all three interspersed, in an attempt to throw Inchelium off.

"As a coach, you’re sitting there going ‘what do we do? How long does this keep going?’ " Grindy said.

The league foes aren't scheduled to meet again in the regular season, but could see one another in district — or regionals.

The next day, the Warriors traveled to Northport for another double-header. When Northport scored five first inning runs, Grindy could see his players smiling as they regrouped in the dugout.

"This is basically nothing compared to yesterday," Grindy told them. "Then we settled down and won 15-5."

ALMIRA-COULEE-HARTLINE 48, INCHELIUM 39

ALMIRA-COULEE HARLINE

Top performers — Beth Okamoto 6-9, 4 R, 6 RBI; Adyson Schafer 6-8, 7 R, 6 RBI; Mimi Isaak 4-8, 5 R, 2 RBI; Callie Pinar 5-8, 5 R, 4 RBI, 2-4, R, 2 RBI; Abby Roberts 2-5, 5 R, 2 RBI, Whitley Rushton 3-7, 4 R, 5 RBI; Desiree Schmauder 9-10, 5 R, 6 RBI; Kayleigh Elder 4-8, 5 R, 3 RBI; Prairie Parrish 7-9, 6. R, 6 RBI. 

Pitching — Kinzie McCall 2.1 IP, 14 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 4 BB; Isaak 4.0 IP, 20 H, 17 R, 17 ER, K, BB; Okamoto 3.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, K, 2 BB.

INCHELIUM

Top performers — Hailey Peone 5-8, 5 R, 4 RBI; Isabella Finley 8-9, 7 R, 8 RBI; Torrence Finley 7-8, 5 R, 6 RBI; Tiana 3-6, 4 R, 2 RBI, Sammi Stensgar 5-9, 4 R, 5 RBI; AnnMarie 3-8, 2 R 3 RBI; Madeline Desautel 3-6, 2 R, 3 RBI; Kiki McLaughlin 5-9, 3 R, 2 RBI; Leona Signor 4-6, 5 R, RBI. 

Pitching — Torrence Finley 5.2 IP, 28 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 2 K, BB; Desautel 4.1 IP, 21 H, 21 R, 20 ER, 11 BB.