HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. – After dropping their first two games Tuesday at the USSSA’s Southeast Nationals, the Yakima Diamond Cats turned to their stopper.

And Ainsley Johnson delivered.

The West Valley graduate and CBBN MVP pitched the Diamond Cats to a victory Wednesday, tossing a six-inning no-hitter while striking out 10 batters and walking just one in a 6-0 victory against Explosion Fastpitch of Danville, Ind.

The victory helped Yakima, 1-2 in pool play, avoid the play-in round of the double-elimination bracket, which gets going Thursday morning. The Diamond Cats will play the KC Bombers of Kansas City, Mo., at 8:35.

Johnson, who pitched the Rams to their first Class 4A state tournament victory in May, took control early Wednesday, retiring the first eight batters she faced, six of them by strikeout.

“She had a day today,” said Diamond Cats coach Casey Johnson, the pitcher’s father. “They couldn’t touch their change-up; kept them off balance all game.”

The Explosion had just two reach base, one on a walk in the third inning, and another on an error in the fifth. Johnson would not let the runners advance.

She capped the victory with her final two strikeouts.

Yakima backed Johnson with an eight-hit attack, scoring in the first four innings.

West Valley senior Ashleigh James delivered a two-run single and RBI double for the Diamond Cats.

Madi Statler had an RBI single, Lilli Van Wagoner singled and drove in a run, Calleigh Sinnes scored two runs, and Johnson helped her own cause with two hits, one of them a double.

If the Diamond Cats beat the Bombers, they’ll be off until Friday. A loss would drop them into a loser-out contest Thursday afternoon.

SENIOR LEGION

Pak doubleheader canceled

Yakima Valley’s scheduled doubleheader Wednesday night against Crew 18U was canceled by the visiting team.

The Pak (23-10) returns to action Saturday when it hosts the Yakima Beetles in a league doubleheader, before heading to Parker Faller Field on Sunday for another twin bill to cap the regular season.