South Kitsap’s softball season came to an end after losing two hard-fought games at districts May 16.
The No. 12 seed Wolves lost to No. 5 seed Emerald Ridge 6-3 and then No. 13 seed Stadium 11-8 at the Kent Service Club Ballfields.
The game against Stadium ended with drama, as Eva Spencer of SK hit a home run, which was then ruled a double by the umpires. A homerun would have cut the Wolves’ deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh, but the double meant they were still down by three. SK’s rally came up short in the end.
“Regardless of that score, I am proud of the tenacity this team has shown,” SK coach Bobby Lawrence said.
In the game against Emerald Ridge, SK’s fielding struggled early on, letting up two runs in the bottom of the first through multiple fielding errors.
Emerald Ridge continued to build on its lead in the top of the second, driving in another run off a deep shot to center field and increasing its lead to three. Maleah Sawyers sparked some life in the SK offense with a solo home run to center field in the top of the third, trimming the deficit to two.
Nonetheless, the Jaguars were able to drive in another run off a sac fly, increasing the lead back to three at 4-1.
Madison Bonilla was subbed in to pitch for Joci Lee after three innings for SK. Emerald Ridge proceeded with an RBI double, but Bonilla got SK out of the bottom of the fourth inning with a strikeout.
Emerald Ridge was able to put up another run on an RBI single to center field, increasing its lead to 6-1 by the end of the bottom of the fifth inning.
Sawyers was also able to get on base via an infield error from Emerald Ridge, giving SK two runners on base for the first time all game. The Wolves loaded the bases off a Ronan Byrd single with the tying run at-bat. Second-baseman Kelsi Hynek drove another run in for SK off a single to the shortstop.
Bonilla made quick work of the Emerald Ridge batters in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving SK one last opportunity for a comeback. Sawyers and Spencer managed to get on base, but the Wolves were stymied from that point on.
“Our group really came together,” Spencer said. “We were really loud and supportive of each other. We really did try our best. We were back and forth the whole game, even last game.”
Joci Lee got the start again for the Wolves in the game against Stadium, but struggled in the first inning, letting up four runs, but began to settle down the next few innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hannah Roebuck grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Kelsie Hynek. Sawyers soon after hit a line drive single to right field, driving in Kayla Liebrandt and Roebuck, tying the game up at four apiece. A Stadium error drove Sawyers in, and a Reagan Dale single drove in Spencer, giving SK their first lead of the game at 5-4.
Lee and Sawyers both accounted for RBI singles in the bottom of the fifth, giving SK the lead back at 7-5. The Wolves only needed one more half-inning to keep themselves alive in the tournament.
Relief pitcher Bonilla let up a double on the first at-bat in the top of the seventh and hit a batter, giving Stadium two baserunners with no outs. Lee was subbed back into the game after Stadium managed to tie the game up at seven, driving the two baserunners in for scores. Lee walked a runner home, keeping the bases for the Tigers. Stadium then hit an RBI double, extending the lead for the Tigers at 11-7.
“The hardest part is saying goodbye to our seniors who have played with us for four years,” Lawrence said.
