May 20, 2013 @ 5:54 pm
Winning their second straight loser-out contest, Bellarmine Prep advanced to the 4A state softball tournament with a 10-4 win this afternoon over Gig Harbor at Sprinker Rec Center.
After Gig Harbor got on the board on Anna Overland’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first, the Lions exploded for five runs in the second inning, capped by a two-run single from Courtney Schwan to make it 5-2. Audrey Lindberg answered in the bottom half with a two-run single for the Tides to cut it to 5-4, but Bellarmine Prep starter Rachel Barcena then retired 14 batters in a row.
The Lions’ offense put the game away with four runs in the top of the fifth to make it 10-4, as Schwan and Alex DeStephano had run-scoring singles in the frame. Bellarmine second baseman Becca Sorensen was also an offensive key for the Lions, drawing three bases-loaded walks in the game to plate three runs. Barcena finished by allowing the four runs on four hits, with three walks and 12 strikeouts. The Lions were to face South Kitsap at 5 p.m. in a game to determine seeding to the state tournament.
Wilson, meanwhile, fell short of the state tournament as they lost 3-2 to Peninsula in their morning game and were topped 5-0 by Bonney Lake later in a loser-out contest.
The Rams managed just three hits off Bonney Lake starter Melissa Charron, getting a runner in scoring position just twice in the contest. The Panthers got on the board on Maddi Adams’ two-run double in the bottom of the first, and Bailey Ahern added a two-run double in the third to make it 4-0. Wilson’s best chance to score came when Darian Grimm crushed a ball to left center to lead off the fourth, but the ball hit midway up the fence, and Grimm was stranded at second after settling for a double.
May 20, 2013 @ 9:31 am
The weather wreaked havoc on the district softball tournament at Sprinker Rec Center this weekend, postponing games on Friday and Saturday and forcing a full day’s worth of action today.
Bellarmine Prep’s second-round, loser-out game versus Battle Ground, which began on Friday at 4 p.m., was set to resume again – after the teams played just over two innings on Saturday morning – this morning at 10 a.m. The Lions had taken a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh, and had allowed a walk to lead off the bottom half as they looked to close it out. Should they win the Lions would face league foe Gig Harbor at 1 p.m. in a winner-to-state contest. Bellarmine has a 2-1 record versus Gig Harbor this season, with all the games being decided by one run.
Wilson, meanwhile, was scheduled to resume their game against Peninsula at 11 a.m. this morning. The Rams and Seahawks had played one inning of their game on Saturday morning, and were tied 0-0 heading into the second when play was halted. If the Rams win they would move on to the semifinals at 3 p.m. this afternoon against the winner between Kelso and Bonney Lake. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. tonight. Should Wilson lose their opener against Peninsula, they would play again at 1 p.m. in a loser-out, winner-to-state contest.
3A bracket here: http://www.wiaadistrict3.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=960&sport=15&ps_type=1
4A bracket here: http://www.wiaadistrict3.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=962&sport=15&ps_type=1
May 17, 2013 @ 11:41 am
Kentlake used a four-run third inning to take control, and outlasted Bellarmine Prep 6-3 in the Lions' district opener this morning at Sprinker Recreation Center.
Starting pitcher Leilei Robinson got the Falcons on the board with a two-run single in the third off Bellarmine starter Courtney Schwan. Regan Rudisill followed with a run-scoring groundout, and Crystal Knight's single to score Robinson made it 4-0. The Falcons made it 6-0 in the fourth on Kellie Nielsen's two-run triple to left center.
The Lions finally got on the board in the fifth when Rachel Sorensen reached on a one-out walk and came around to score on a single by Alexa Ostrander.
Rachel Barcena came on to relieve Schwan in the sixth, escaping a bases-loaded threat with no outs by striking out three batters in a row. Schwan and Barcena combined for 14 strikeouts in the game.
Barcena then drilled a triple to left center to score Alex DeStephano in the sixth and scored on a single by Ashlynn Ota to cut it to 6-3. But the Lions could get no closer, as they face a loser-out matchup this afternoon at 4 p.m. against the loser between Battle Ground and Emerald Ridge.
May 16, 2013 @ 9:50 am
Bellarmine Prep and Wilson are ready to hit the field for the start of the 4A and 3A Bi-District softball tournaments, which begin on Friday morning at Sprinker Recreation Center in Parkland.
Bellarmine earned the Narrows 4A number-two seed to districts, and will face Kentlake – the seventh seed from the SPSL – at 10 a.m. in the opening round. Should they win, they would play the winner between Emerald Ridge and Battle Ground at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon. If they lose they would play the loser between those two teams at 4 p.m. in a loser-out game. For updates on the 4A bracket go here: http://www.wiaadistrict3.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=962&sport=15&ps_type=1.
Wilson, meanwhile, earned the Narrows 3A top seed to districts after beating North Thurston last Friday in the league championship game. That earned the Rams an important bye into the second round of the district tournament, where they need just one win to be assured of a spot at the state tournament. They will face the winner between Peninsula and Mountain View on Friday at 6 p.m. If they win they would play in the semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. against either Bonney Lake, Kelso or Shelton. Should they lose they would also play on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a loser-out game. For updates on the 3A bracket go here: http://www.wiaadistrict3.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=960&sport=15&ps_type=1.
May 15, 2013 @ 9:07 pm
In their first state playoff appearance since 2004, the Wilson Rams outplayed Shorewood for the first 20 minutes but couldn’t produce any goals, ultimately falling 1-0 tonight to the Thunderbirds at Mount Tahoma Stadium.
Shorewood’s Taj McChesney provided the lone strike in the 32nd minute, stealing a ball near the top of the Rams’ box and driving a low shot past diving Wilson keeper Matvey Shitik.
That moment contradicted much of the theme of the first half, as Wilson kept possession in the Thunderbirds’ half for much of the period and outshot Shorewood 5-4. But the Rams got their best look at goal two minutes after halftime, as Munassar Saleh took a pass 25 yards away from goal and delivered a ball on the left to Aarjay Narayan, who drove a strike that was barely tipped over goal by Shorewood keeper Calvin Crawford.
The Thunderbirds then took over, outshooting the Rams 11-1 the rest of the way. Wilson escaped further damage in the 49th minute when midfielder Zach Schneider brilliantly dove to clear out a shot by Abdul Abdulla feet away from the goal after Abdulla moved around Shitik.
But the Rams couldn’t produce any more good looks at goal, and a last-gasp free kick from 25 yards out by Saleh with seven seconds remaining came up short and was stopped by Crawford.
