Power in the Pines: Storm Outlast Centralia in 13-Inning Marathon Sweep

CENTRALIA, Wash. — If anyone questioned the grit of the Chemeketa Storm, Friday's road trip to Centralia provided an emphatic answer. In a doubleheader defined by massive swings, late-inning drama, and a nine-inning nightcap that pushed both teams to their physical limits, Chemeketa emerged with a gritty sweep, winning 9-7 and 13-11.

The Storm's "big three"—Layni Noonkester, Zoe Moore, and Meagan Trissell—turned the ballpark into a launchpad, combining for six home runs on the day and repeatedly answering every Centralia rally with a haymaker of their own.

Game 1: The Long Ball Early and Often

Final: Chemeketa 9, Centralia 7

Chemeketa set the tone in the very first inning when Noonkester launched a two-run blast to open a 3-0 lead. The Storm lead swelled to 8-3 by the fifth thanks to a parade of power, including a two-run homer from Moore and a solo shot from Trissell.

However, the Blazers didn't go quietly. In the bottom of the sixth, Centralia found a gap in the armor, stringing together four doubles to pull within two runs. Shayla Qualls entered the circle in relief of Addison Bennett to face the pressure, slamming the door with two strikeouts in the final frame to secure the victory.

• Key Stat: Chemeketa's defense was flawless, committing zero errors to support Bennett's 142-pitch winning effort.

Game 2: A Nine-Inning Epic

Final: Chemeketa 13, Centralia 11 (9 Innings)

The nightcap felt like three games in one. The Storm appeared to have the game in hand early, leading 9-2 after three innings. But the seventh inning proved to be a nightmare for the visitors, as Centralia exploded for six runs to erase a 10-4 deficit and force the game into extra innings tied at 10-10.

After a scoreless eighth that saw both teams trade runs to keep it knotted at 11-11, the stage was set for Meagan Trissell. With Zoe Moore on base after her fifth walk of the game, Trissell worked a deep count before launching a towering two-run home run to left-center.

Kamryn Long, who provided stellar relief in the final frames, shut down the Blazers in the bottom of the ninth to end the nearly four-hour affair.

The "Storm Three" Home Run Tracker

The power display was historic, with the middle of the order accounting for almost all of the damage:

Statistical Standouts

• Zoe Moore (The Disciplined Giant): Moore had a statistical anomaly of a day, reaching base 10 times in the doubleheader, including an incredible 6 walks and two home runs.

• Kylie Caraphina (The Table Setter): The catcher was a nightmare on the bases, stealing four bags over two games and scoring four runs.

• Laney Deloe: In addition to her 6.1 innings in the circle in Game 2, she went 2-for-4 at the plate with a clutch double.

Coach's Corner: Resilience Under Pressure

Winning a game that you once led by six runs—only to lose that lead in the final inning—requires a specific type of mental toughness. By staying aggressive in the 8th and 9th innings, Chemeketa proved they could handle the high-pressure environment of NWAC road games.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio