Storm Battle Fiercely in NWAC Championship Opener Against Spokane
Twenty Years in the Making: Storm Softball Waves Goodbye to a Legendary Spring
PORTLAND, Ore. — The stage was grand, the stakes were high, and the fight was undeniable. Making their highly anticipated return to the NWAC Softball Championship tournament at Delta Park, the 12th-seeded Chemeketa Storm went toe-to-toe with the Spokane Sasquatch on Thursday morning.
While the Storm dropped the opening round contest 8-2, the game was a testament to Chemeketa's relentless grit as they battled through a tough early deficit and refused to back down on the tournament's biggest stage.
A Challenging Start at Delta Park
The Sasquatch, playing as the higher seed, managed to jump out to a quick start on the dirt. Spokane struck for three runs in the bottom of the first and added four more in the second, utilizing aggressive baserunning and timely singles to take an early 7-0 advantage.
Facing an uphill climb against a sharp Spokane pitching staff, the Storm stayed poised. Head Coach Chelsea Qualls called upon Addison Bennett out of the bullpen in the second inning to restore order. Bennett did exactly that, settling the game down beautifully by throwing 5.0 innings of resilient relief, scattering just three hits, and locking down the Sasquatch order to keep the Storm within striking distance.
Answering Back: The Infield Sparks the Offense
True to the "Grind" culture that defined their historic 24-win regular season, Chemeketa cracked the scoreboard in the top of the second. Newly crowned First-Team All-League shortstop Layni Noonkester ignited the spark, showing off her gap power with a line-drive double. Seconds later, Jazmin Gallegos put together a highly disciplined at-bat, driving a grounder to third to execute the situational play and score Noonkester to make it 1-3.
The Storm bats continued to threaten, collecting 6 hits on the morning. Kylie Carapinha proved why she earned All-Region honors behind the dish, putting together a stellar 2-for-3 performance at the plate. In the top of the sixth, Carapinha's aggressive baserunning paid off as she manufactured a run, sliding across home plate to cut the deficit to 7-2 and inject late-inning life into the Chemeketa dugout.
First-Team infielder Zoe Moore also added an extra-base hit to the stat sheet with a towering double, but the Spokane defense managed to halt the Storm's late-inning rallies before they could completely tip the scales.
Championship Opener Lineup Leaders
| Athlete | Performance | Key Impact |
| Kylie Carapinha | 2-for-3, 1 Run | Kept the line moving with a multi-hit tournament opener. |
| Layni Noonkester | 1-for-3, 2B, 1 Run | Ignited the Storm's scoring with an extra-base blast. |
| Addison Bennett | 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H | Provided critical long-relief stability from the circle. |
| Zoe Moore | 1-for-3, 2B | Delivered deep extra-base power in the tournament spotlight. |
Reflecting on a Historic, Groundbreaking Campaign
While the final out at Delta Park brings an end to the Storm's postseason run, it does not diminish what has been a truly legendary year for the program.
The 2026 season will forever be remembered as a massive turning point for Chemeketa Softball. Under the guidance of third-year Head Coach Chelsea Qualls, this squad shattered a 20-year glass ceiling by securing the program's first winning season in two decades. Their 24-24 overall record also marked the first time the Storm has crossed the 20-win threshold in 12 years.
From a premier 4th-place finish in the brutal NWAC South to finishing in the Top 10 nationally across seven different offensive categories, the 2026 Storm re-established Salem as a powerhouse destination for elite softball talent. Led by All-League selections Layni Noonkester, Zoe Moore, Meaghan Trissell, and Kylie Carapinha, this roster didn't just compete—they rewrote the record books.
The Standard Has Been Set
As the dirt settles on the 2026 campaign, the Storm walk away with their heads held high. The milestones achieved this spring—the top-12 RPI ranking, the flurry of extra-base records, and the return to the NWAC Championship tournament—are no longer distant goals. They are the new baseline.
Thank you to our sophomores for your dedication, sacrifice, and leadership in rebuilding this culture, and thank you to the fans who supported the "Grind" every step of the way. The foundation is firmly laid, and the future of Storm Softball has never been brighter.
Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio
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