YAKIMA – Sometimes it’s best to leave the bear alone.

Clinging to a two-run lead against top-seeded Chiawana in the fourth inning of the Class 4A state slowpitch championship game late Saturday afternoon, seventh-seeded Ferris decided to challenge the allowance of a bat a Riverhawks player had just used to get a hit.

After about a 20-minute delay, WIAA officials came back and said the bat was on the approved list – and Chiawana was apparently awoken.

The Riverhawks scored the game’s final nine runs to race past the Saxons, 13-6, and claim the program’s fifth state title.

“I think they woke up something, that’s for sure,” second-year Chiawana coach Aaron Cantu said.

In getting to the final, the Riverhawks had pasted their first two opponents by a combined score of 47-7, and a three-run first at-bat hinted that another blowout could be in the offing.

But Ferris, which followed the same path to the final that Chiawana last year in knocking off the No. 2 and 3 seeds, had plenty of fight, and hacked the deficit to a run going into the fourth inning.

The Saxons then surged into the lead with a four-run rally.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Ferris coaching staff challenged the use of a Chiawana bat, and the umpires gave the disputed equipment to WIAA officials, who eventually gave its use the thumbs up.

That only seemed to fire up the Riverhawks.

Emma Lewis and Camdyn Vargas delivered RBI singles to tie the score in the fourth, and, after the Saxons were retired in order in the top of the fifth, Chiawana got rolling.

Itzaire Galvez and Samantha Jahns singles were followed by a three-run blast over the center-field fence by Mid-Columbia Conference Player of the Kinsley Jones for a 9-6 lead.

“In this moment, when we needed it most, Kinsley rose to the opportunity,” Cantu said.

The Riverhawks followed another 1-2-3 inning with four more runs in the sixth, a two-run inside-the-park by Vargas sparking the rally.

Ferris threatened in the seventh with back-to-back singles to open the inning, and loading the bases with two outs, but Chiawana escaped unscathed and wrapped up the championship.

“This group is special because even when we are up, even when we are down, even when external factors seem to be pouring in,” Cantu said, “they still seem to band together because they are a family, they are one and they get the job done.”

The Riverhawks finished the season 21-1.

Jones and Vargas each had three hits, including a triple, and combined to drive in eight runs.

Lewis doubled twice and had three hits.

Eastmont battles back from semi loss

CBBN regular-season and district champion Eastmont looked destined to reach its first championship game, leading Ferris by seven runs in the fifth inning.

But the Saxons strung together 10 hits and took advantage of a fielding miscue to score eight runs in the sixth, and eventually top the Wildcats 18-16 to advance to the title game.

The Wildcats, though, didn’t pack it in.

After handling CBBN rival West Valley 11-1, Eastmont posted its third 10-run-rule win of the weekend with a 16-4 handling of Skyview to claim third place for the third time in four years.

“We were devastated; we had big plans,” Wildcats coach Mike Koch said. “I was heartbroken after we lost that game, so knowing that, the way they came back and played the next two games – unbelievable.”

Allie Hastings homered, doubled and drove in three in the medal round against the Storm.

Ava Garcia added three hits, one of them a double, and knocked in three runs, while Malorie Lane had a three-run double and finished with four RBI.

Against the Rams, Halle Radach had three hits – including a solo home run and RBI double – and three RBI, Olivia Gill had a two-run triple, while Hastings and Lane each had two hits and drove in two runs.

Eastmont finished the season 18-4.

“I’m so proud of them, they could’ve just laid down,” Koch said.

Calleigh Sinned has three hits and an RBI in her final game for the Rams (14-4).