To get to this point, you have to be more than talented — you have to be tough.

Weatherly and Northwest have shown they’re both plenty tough.

After navigating different but equally demanding paths through district and sectional play, the two teams will meet again Wednesday for the 8-10 softball championship. Northwest forced the winner-take-all final by defeating Weatherly 7-3 Tuesday evening.

It was another chapter in what has become a postseason defined by resilience, response, and resolve.

“We know that it takes a never-give-up attitude,” said Northwest manager Jen Carlo. “That comes from the top down — the reminders, the belief. It’s easy to get distraught when you’re down early, but these girls don’t hang their heads.”

Northwest had reason to after the way the tournament began. The team opened sectionals with an 11-6 loss to Warrington. But it bounced back with a 7-2 win over West End before avenging its earlier defeat with a 10-9 walk-off with three runs in the bottom of the seventh against Warrington on Monday. Tuesday’s victory over previously unbeaten Weatherly was the third in a row for a Northwest squad that has leaned on its defense, pitching, and attitude.

“I love that word: grit. That’s my favorite word,” said Carlo. “And this group has it. We’ve come back multiple times — even in the regular season we were down seven and came back and won. So it’s nothing new for them.”

Weatherly, meanwhile, has made a habit of winning the close ones. The Lady Wreckers captured the District 18 championship on June 25 with a 4-3 walk-off win over Carbon, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the comeback. They opened sectionals with another 4-3 walk-off over West End and followed it with a thrilling 7-6 win against Warrington.

That battle-tested identity showed up again Tuesday — even in a loss.

Weatherly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kenzie Clabia singled, stole two bases, and scored on an error, while Cassidy Witner blooped a single and eventually crossed the plate on an RBI double down the right side by Briella Vanblargan.

Northwest answered immediately in the bottom half. Kylie Trabucco drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on defensive indifference, and scored on a ground ball single up the middle by Olivia Miller to cut it to 2-1. Clabia responded with a pair of strikeouts sandwiched around a walk to leave runners at second and third and preserve the lead.

The momentum shifted in the second inning. Northwest pushed across four runs without recording a hit, capitalizing on walks, wild pitches, and errors. Angelina Bowman. Grace Garcsar and C.C. Rivera all scored on wild pitches in an inning that had four walks and one error.

The Lady Wreckers threatened again in the top of the third. Walks to both Auri Rambaran and Audrey Wagner set the stage for another big inning, and Clabia came through with her second RBI single of the game to make it 4-3.

Izzy Durham walked to load the bases with no outs, but Northwest pitcher Madison Solivan worked out of the jam with a flyout, strikeout, and groundout to maintain the one-run edge.

“That was a big moment,” said Carlo. “For Madison to keep her composure and get out of that with no damage beyond one run — that’s huge. Weatherly is a gritty bunch, and we knew they weren’t going away.”

Solivan, who struck out 11 and went the distance, was steady throughout.

“She pitched so much and just kept going,” said Carlo. “She gave us what we needed. She’s tough.”

Northwest added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, three consecutive walks set up the rally as Garcsar scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3.

They tacked on two more in the fifth as Miller, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Saige Schaeffer each delivered RBI hits to push the lead to 7-3.

“We didn’t necessarily play our game tonight,” said Weatherly manager Rachel Witner. “We had some mental errors. My first pitcher just didn’t have it tonight. And that’s OK. We’re not always going to have a perfect game. But I know she’ll be ready tomorrow to come back on the mound and do her thing — and be the leader that she is.”

Witner, who guided her team through the District 18 bracket, said she’s confident in the group’s ability to respond once again.

“These girls will come back tomorrow and have their mindset — and hopefully be in it to win it and to get back on the W train,” she said. “Each game has been a battle. This one wasn’t in our favor today. But I know they’re ready.

“We had a lot of fans here tonight, and that means more to us than anything — the support and how they rally behind us. They’re here for us and our kids. It’s awesome.”

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN ... The decisive winner-take-all game in the tournament will once again be held at West End Fairgrounds Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Weatherly 201 000 - 3 4 3

Northwest 130 12x - 7 3 1

Clabia, Vanblargan (3) and Durham; Solivan and Parry. W - Solivan. L - Clabia.