The Lower Columbia College Red Devils took second place in the NWAC tournament as they put on a great display of grit and determination at the Merkle Sports Complex in Spokane.  Rained out the first day, the Devils had to play three games on Saturday, three on Sunday and two on Monday.  They beat all the best teams in the NWAC but fell short in the championship game to North Idaho.
 
The Devils had many offensive stars during the weekend but the remarkable story was the yeoman pitching of freshmen Nizhoni Wheeler.  Wheeler started every game and except for one tough inning, she carved up the best the NWAC had to offer. Wheeler was named to the All-Tournament team along with Allyssa Gustafson, Cheyenne Gilbertson and Kendell Clauson.  There were many other Red Devils that had the numbers to also be placed on that team.
 
Here is how the special weekend in Spokane shook out:
 
Game #1
Lower Columbia 9 Centralia 1
Nizhoni Wheeler pitched a complete game three hitter with eight strikeouts.  The Devils came out with four runs in the first inning and never looked back.  Allyssa Gustafson went 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBI's.  Shanay Dotson and Sarah Potwin each had two RBI's.
 
Game #2
Edmonds 17 Lower Columbia 10
A rough second inning led to a high scoring loss to Edmonds.  The Devils gave up nine runs in the fateful second but they didn't give up.  LCC got back to within three runs before the Tritons collected the win.  Shanay Dotson went 3 for 5 including a homer.  Briana Harvill had a two run homer.  Kendell Clauson and Gustafson also went deep.  Cheyenne Gilbertson had three hits and Aurora Gouley had two hits and two RBI's.
 
Game #3
Lower Columbia 7 Clackamas 3
The Devils played its third game of Saturday under the lights and scored five runs in the first three innings to take control.  Wheeler scattered eight hits and allowed just one earned run for the victory.  Potwin hit a big two run homer.  Harvill and Gilbertson had two hits each.
 
Game #4
Lower Columbia 9 Wenatchee Valley 0
Wheeler was dominant as she fired a four hit shutout in the five inning mercy affair.  Harvill went deep and Gilbertson had yet another three hit game.    Burnett, Gustafson and Potwin had two hits each.
 
Game #5
Lower Columbia 10 Walla Walla 3
The Devils blew open a tight game by scoring five runs in the 4^th inning and then sealing it with three in the 6^th.  It was another complete game for Nizhoni, striking out seven.  Dotson hit a homer as she went 2 for 3 with two RBI's.  Gouley hit a solo homer.
 
Game #6
Lower Columbia 9 Douglas 3
For the second straight day, the Devils played three games and they stayed alive with a big win over Douglas.  LCC jumped out with four runs in the first inning.  Christine Robbins hit a home run as part of a 2 for 3 game with two RBI's.  Kendell Clauson had the knockout blow with a homer and three RBI's.  Gustafson went 4 for 4 with two RBI's. Wheeler again was the workhorse going seven innings and allowing just three runs. The victory sent the Devils into championship Monday.
 
Game #7
Lower Columbia 7 Edmonds 1
Wheeler was devastating as she held the power Tritons to just one run on four hits striking out six.  Burnett hit a huge homer as part of a three run 4^th inning.  Clauson had two hits and three RBI's.  The win put the Devils into the championship game against North Idaho.
 
Game #8
North Idaho 8 Lower Columbia 5
The Devils were faced with having to beat the Cardinals two times to wrestle away the title.  It didn't happen, but not for lack of trying.  Down 6-1 in the third, LCC came back to get within 6-5 before the Cards answered with two big runs in the 5^th.  Wheeler was valliant, pitching in her eight straight game over three days.  Burnett hit a first inning homer and Robbins blasted a two run shot.
 
Although the Devils are disappointed to fall just short, it was a weekend of monumental achievement.  It was also a season to remember as LCC put up offensive numbers among the best in school history. The Devils finished 42-14. The 42 wins in the second best in the illustrious history of LCC softball.
 
Better than that, this was a team that competed and had fun doing it. The trip to Spokane will not soon be forgotten.