Prep Fastpitch: Bearcats Best Warriors in Rematch Showdown

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BIG NIGHTS: Bearcats Hold Off Warriors; PWV Secures League Title; Mossyrock Wins Walk-Off Thriller

W.F. West junior ace Kamy Dacus brought the heat, striking out 10 batters and allowing one earned run on six hits as the Bearcats beat Rochester for the second time this season, this time a 3-1 road victory in front of a huge crowd Friday.

This was a highly-anticipated matchup between the Bearcats and Warriors, two of the top 2A teams in the state. W.F. West entered with a perfect 6-0 record, while Rochester had reeled off six-straight wins after taking its lone loss, a 1-0 defeat, to the Bearcats earlier this season

That game ended on a double bunt and this game was much of the same, coming down to the little things.

“The preparations we do mentally pulled through as much as the physical aspect,” W.F. West coach Caty Lieseke said. “I could hear it in the way they carried themselves.”

The two squads played to a stalemate until the top of the third, when Bearcat senior Alisha Anderson belted a shot to the left-centerfield gap for a standup triple. A grounder by the next batter resulted in an overthrow to third base in an attempt to catch Anderson in a pickle, which allowed her to score and put the Bearcats up 1-0.

Dacus and freshman leadoff hitter Lena Fragner later score the Bearcats’ other two runs. Sophomore shortstop Saige Brindle was 2-for-3 at the plate and sophomore second baseman Brielle Etter had two big bunts to move runners into scoring position.

“(Etter) took care of business and did a good job,” Lieseke said.

Rochester tallied six total hits, led by freshman Staysha Fluetsch’s two hits and an RBI. Faith Kennedy, Jessa Lenzi, Callie Crawford and Sadie Knutson each collected one hit.

“It’s the small things,” Rochester first-year coach Tiffany Garcia said. “Those little things, we didn’t take advantage of; those third strikes. We can’t let that get away.”

Garcia said that although it was a disappointing loss, she’s encouraged that the team improved from that first matchup with W.F. West.

“(Dacus) didn’t have 15 strikeouts like last time; that was a win,” Garcia said. “We scored a run this time; that was a win. It was a tough loss but we did some growing.”

Rochester falls to 7-2 and travels to Tumwater on Monday. W.F. West hosts Tumwater on Wednesday.

Aberdeen Out-Hits Young Centralia Team

The Centralia Tigers made more strides Friday, but fell 19-10 to the visiting Bobcats in a 2A Evergreen Conference softball game on Friday in Centralia.

Jadyn Hawley checked in with a triple and two RBI, Makayla Chavez went 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Gracie Schofield was 2-for-5.

Most importantly for Centralia coach David Orr, the bottom of the Tigers order, filled with young’uns, all had hits, signaling growth for a team with two freshmen manning the infield, an infield that turned a pair of twin-killings that resulted in a pair of quick innings that helped Centralia’s light pitching staff.

“We knew that we had to out-hit them,” Orr said. “They just pretty much hit gaps and we hit it right at outfielders.”

Centralia (1-7) visits Shelton on Monday at 4 p.m.

1A Fastpitch

Tenino Splits With Hoquiam

Fielding errors resulted in a 4-3 loss in game one to Hoquiam, then Tenino recovered for a 4-2 in game two of a doubleheader Friday in Grays Harbor.

Tenino ace Emily Baxter pitched both games, combining for 18 strikeouts and just three hits. She took the loss in game one while fanning nine batters and allowing only one hit with zero walks. But four errors by the Beavers’ defense was their downfall.

Alivia Hunter and Abby Severse both went 2-for-4 at the plate in game one, while senior Cassie Cannon, a Porterville College signee, blasted a solo home run.



In game two, Baxter struck out nine again, this time allowing three hits and two walks. Severe led offensively, going 2-for-3, while Autumn Long added a triple.

“We had some key sacrifices to move runners,” Tenino coach Chris Johnson said. “We were a lot better defensively and able to make plays.”

Tenino moves to 3-6 overall and hosts Elma in a doubleheader Tuesday on senior night. The Beavers then head to Elma for another doubleheader on Friday. If Tenino wins three of the four games, they secure the No. 2 seed going into districts.

2B Fastpitch

Titans Secure League Title

Undefeated Pe Ell-Willapa Valley busted off back-to-back wins, 4-2 and 11-2, on the road over Forks Friday to secure the 2B Pacific League title.

Needing just one win to lock up the league title and the No. 1 seed heading into districts, it didn’t come easy. PWV took a 2-2 tie into the top of the eighth inning in game one. The Titans plated two runs while Matlock knocked the Spartans down in the bottom of the eighth to secure a 4-2 victory and the league crown.

Matlock went the distance, striking out 12 while allowing five hits. Merissa Frazier led the Titans at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Senior Annika Mason also drove in a run.

The Titans apparently only needed some warming up to do as they exploded for nine runs in the sixth inning to run away with an 11-2 victory in game two. 

PWV tallied 14 total hits, led by Marlock three hits and three RBIs. Grace Huber added two hits while Raelee Portmann drove in two runs.

Matlock slung 10 strikeouts and allowed three hits in seven innings to finish with 22 Ks for the day.

PWV extends its win streak to 11 games and improves to 11-0 on the season. The Titans travel to North Beach for a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Mossyrock Walks Off MWP in Thriller

The Mossyrock Vikings staged a huge comeback on Senior Night, culminating in a wild 17-16 walk-off win Friday night in Mossyrock to stay undefeated, claiming the winning run on a squeeze bunt from eighth grader Briar Williams.

Down as many as 9-1 and later 16-9, Mossyrock scored two in the sixth, four in the seventh to force extras, then pushed across the winner in the seventh to earn the first win over Morton/White Pass in at least four years.

Gracie Lovan started the extra frame with a bullet of a single, stole second then moved to third on a productive out from her sister Abby, setting up the game-winning situation for the inexperienced Williams.

Mossyrock coach Keith Coleman asked Williams if she could bunt, and she answered in the affirmative. She fouled off the first one, and Coleman beckoned for another, not caring MWP knew it was coming. She got it down, Gracie Lovan came across, and Mossyrock went home jubilant.

The middle of the Vikings’ lineup combined for 11 hits, five of which were doubles. Cleanup hitter Trisha Rockwood went 5-for-5 with four two-baggers, Jolee Hadaller, the three-hole hitter, was 3-for-5 and No. 5 hitter Bailey Tofaeono was 3-for-4 with a double. Hailey Brooks added a pair of hits, as well, including a double.

“It was a dandy,” Coleman said.

Mossyrock (6-0) plays every day next week, starting with a trip to Tahola for a 3:30 p.m. date with the Chitwins.

Rainier Handles Kalama

Rainier rested its ace, Bailey Elwell, and came away with a 24-9 victory over a young, inexperienced Kalama squad at home on Friday.

It was Senior Night in Rainier and the Mountaineers’ lone senior, Emily Karnes was honored in her final home game.

“It was a good chance to showcase her and have some fun,” Rainier coach Kyle Greenwood said.

Rainier improves to 5-3 and heads to Winlock on Monday.