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Sunday, June 5, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.

4A softball: Woodinville beats Prairie to cap 27-0 season

Seattle Times staff reporter

TACOMA — Dani Weir wore the same smile she did as an 8-year-old.

Except it was bigger. Because the prize was huge.

Weir went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs batted in as the Woodinville Falcons beat Prairie 7-1 to capture their first Class 4A state fastpitch championship and cap a 27-0 season.

To Weir and many of her teammates, it was reminiscent of the state Little League title they won as 8- and 9-year-olds.

"I knew we were going to have it," the junior first baseman said. "It just felt like destiny. We've been together like 10 years, it seems. We've been waiting for this day since the day we were born, basically."

Coach Jim Weir, Dani's father, also recalled that earlier title, when the team went 10-0.

"This is what they've dreamed of," he said of his players. "Here we are again, and they're just bigger and better and a lot more fun."

Woodinville smashed 14 hits, played errorless defense and got a three-hit pitching gem from junior ace Lindsay Boughton. Boughton (20-0) struck out 12, including the side in the bottom of the seventh. Offensively, six of the Woodinville starters had at least one hit or more off Prairie ace Brooke Woodward, who is headed to Washington as a third baseman and pitcher.

Molly Greenup and Danielle Everett joined Weir in the three-hit club, and platoon player Sarah McEnroe, the No. 8 batter, was 2 for 3 with a two-run triple.

"They're an excellent team," said coach Al Aldridge of Prairie (23-7). "That's one of the best one-through-nine hitting teams I've ever seen in high school in my years of coaching. I can see why they're 27-0."

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It was the final game of a 27-year career for Aldridge (25 at Prairie), although he will retain his position as girls basketball coach.

Third-fourth place

Wilson 2, Shadle Park 0

After losing their quarterfinal game to Woodinville on Friday, the Rams of Tacoma came back with four consecutive victories (three of them yesterday) to land their first trophy.

"We're real proud of what we did today," said coach Jim Minitti, who is stepping down after four seasons.

Wilson (26-4) has nine freshmen, led by pitcher Britney Dinelt, who picked up two of the wins yesterday, including the one over the Highlanders. Junior Amanda Pulley got the save.

It was also the best finish for Shadle Park (26-4).

Semifinals

Woodinville 2, Shadle Park 1

Caitlin Walker's perfect push bunt with two outs in the top of the first resulted in the only runs the Falcons would need. The ball rolled past the charging first baseman to score Greenup, who had opened the game with a line single. Amanda Fleischman followed her home when the ball was bobbled.

Fleischman also had reached on a push bunt, then stole second. But Shadle Park starter Stephanie Trudeau struck out the next two batters and went up 0-1 on Walker before Weir called time for a conference. He suggested another push bunt and Walker was game.

"I said, 'Sure, let's go for it,' " Walker said. "When it got by the first baseman, I knew I was there."

Prairie 4, Skyview 1

The Falcons took advantage of a wild streak by Skyview ace Whitney Baker and three Storm errors. Baker, a junior who already has accepted a scholarship to UCLA, struck out 10 and scattered three hits, but wound up walking four.

Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company

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