A different aura surrounded the Bend High softball team in the days leading up to a win-or-go-home state semifinal game against Silverton. Bend High coach Carey Shaughnessy could see it in the players’ faces and in their body language on the practice field.

The players were nervous, and they had all the reason to be.

Scars remained from how the previous two seasons had ended — terrific seasons with multiple playoff wins only to see their title-hopes dashed on their home field in the semifinals.

Seven players on the current Bend roster were part of the 2022 team that lost 4-0 in extra innings to Oregon City in the Class 6A semifinals in a pitchers’ duel of the highest order. Nine players on this year’s team remain from the 2023 team whose season ended with a 4-3 loss to Lebanon in the 5A semifinals, denied once again at a chance for a title.

So when Bend took down No. 6 Wilsonville last Friday in the 5A quarterfinals, all the players could think could about ahead of Tuesday’s semifinal matchup against No. 3 Silverton was how championship appearances can slip away.

“It wasn’t in the back of our minds, it was on our minds the whole time,” said senior pitcher Addisen Fisher.

“Since we won on Friday it had been on our minds that we had lost the last two years in the semis.”

But once it came time to perform against the Foxes, there were no signs of nerves or anxiety that were apparent the previous three days — just seven innings of championship-caliber softball at the plate, in the circle and in the field to send the Lava Bears to their first ever softball championship game.

Bend 6, Silverton 0.

“They came out and did such an amazing job of shaking it off,” Shaughnessy said. “After a couple of days of showing nerves and talking about nerves, they just came out different today than the last couple of days. Being able to talk about it as a team together, just helped a lot.”

As junior right fielder Lauren Glasser put it, “Third time’s the charm.”

The No. 2 Lava Bears (23-6 overall) will face No. 4 Lebanon (22-7) in the Class 5A state championship game at Jane Sanders Stadium on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene on Saturday at 3 p.m.

“When we all came here today we were all having fun in the locker room and having fun during warmups,” Fisher said. “It felt like nothing could stop us. We felt like an unbeatable team.”

Unlike their previous two state semifinal games, the Lava Bears jumped out to an early lead when Fisher launched a two-run homer over the right-field fence.

It was the third homer in the last two games for the UCLA softball signee and set the stage for another power surge from the Lava Bears’ lineup.

“When Addisen hit that first home run of the game that really got everyone going,” Glasser said.

“Seeing the excitement of everyone cheering in the dugout, that gets you so confident at the plate.”

Glasser and junior shortstop Isabella Lauerman also homered in the game, giving the Lava Bears eight long balls in their last two playoff games. Fisher’s two-run home run in the first inning set the tone. Glasser’s in the third extended their lead. And Lauerman’s in the sixth put the exclamation point on the game.

The Lava Bears broke the game open in the third inning, plating two more runs after Glasser’s home run. Sophomore catcher Mackenzie Shaughnessy doubled in a run and senior center fielder Bryanna Schaefer singled in a run to give Bend a 5-0 advantage.

All three of the runs in the third inning came with two outs.

“That’s our mojo,” Glasser said. “When someone gets a good hit you just keep going and going and going.”

A five-run lead was more than enough wiggle room for Fisher, who allowed just four base runners in the game, while striking out 10 Silverton batters.

The Lava Bear defense also came to play. It did not register an error all game as Lauerman, senior third baseman Jet Hovey and freshman first baseman Cassidy Sandgren all came up with key plays in the infield.

“Our defense has been on point during the playoffs,” Fisher said. “The energy in the field has been great because we have a common goal. It felt like we didn’t have any other choice than to make it to the championship game.”