Three of Bainbridge’s four softball teams captured their respective district championships last week and will participate in the state tournament.
The 10-11 team won two 3-2 nailbiters over Gig Harbor to move on to state.
In the first game, Bainbridge struck first. Natalie Allen doubled to center and then stole third. She scored on a groudout by Natalya Niehaus. Allen pitched the final four innings of the game, combining with starting pitcher Alyssa Estes on a one-hitter.
Catcher Celia Story scored the team’s second run in the fourth.
In the fifth inning, Gig Harbor tied the game with two runs.
With the game tied in the final inning, shortstop Maddie Mikami singled. Estes then laid down a bunt single, allowing Mikami to take third. Story bunted to load the bases. Allen batted in Mikami to win the game.
In the title game, pitchers Allen and Estes combined for another one-hitter, and Niehaus drove in two runs. Shortstop Mikami scored the winning run in both games. Bainbridge’s first game is scheduled at 9 a.m. Sunday.
The Majors team bounced back from a difficult 5-3 loss to Sequim after leading 2-0 in the fourth inning. Sequim tied the game in the fifth and tacked on another run the next inning to take the lead. Bainbridge scored a clutch run in the sixth to take the game into extra innings but couldn’t pull through.
In the second game, Bainbridge dominated Sequim with a 9-0 victory. Bainbridge hurler Deahna King pitched a shutout and struck out nine batters.
The team will open play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Vancouver against Chinook, the District 10 champs.
The senior team, a combination of players from North Kitsap and Bainbridge, only had one other team to play in its bracket, the Key Peninsula squad. The teams faced off twice with Bainbridge cruising to victories of 19-2 and 12-4.
The 9-10 squad was the only Bainbridge team not to qualify for the State Tournament. The team ran up against a buzzsaw in the East Jefferson/South Jefferson/Port Townsend team that rolled through the bracket. The team lost 14-2 in the finals. Bainbridge beat Seqium and Gig Harbor in the tournament, but couldn’t take down East Jefferson/South Jefferson/Port Townsend.
Seniors
Rachel Stoeckel, Kristi Worley, Cassidy Trevors, Lindsey Fredericksen, Shantell Leany, Taylor Knutsen, Cassidy Johnson, Hailey Carstensen, Kalie Weible, Sydney Thompson, Anna Obergottsberger, Karrissa Sheriff, Tara Wilford, manager Scott Knutsen, coach Sara Mathiesen, coach Andy Fredericksen,
Majors (11-12)
Hannah Lipka, Julie Feikes, Kristin Bond, Madeline Corbin, Roxanne Edenholm, Madeline Ketcheside, Deahna King, Kate Kinney, DD Madigan, Catie Muir, Katia Nelson, Allison Snare, Carolyn Williams, Manager Eric Lipka, coaches Jay Kinney and Melanie Edenholm.
10-11 Team
Natalie Ackerley, Mikelle Ackerley, Natalie Allen, Amanda Comeau, Caroline Devlin, Alyssa Estes, Riley Gregoire, Emma Lindsay, Madeline Mikami, Celia Story, Natalya Niehaus, Bailey Starbuck, Carly Lant, Manager Stew Estes, coaches Ron Allen and Kurt Lindsay.
9-10 Team
Margaret Bond, Riley Kulfan, Caroline Bowman, Anna Stearns, Anisa Ashabi, Tara Griffith, Melody Giasson, Sara Colley, Nicole Daniels, Josie Davis, Avery Gori, Maddie Green, Julia Groves, Annika Thomburg, Manager Karl Bowman, coaches Eric Stearns and Tony Green.
