By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COVINGTON - The Mount Rainier fastpitch softball team linked hits together in a middle innings comeback before dropping an 8-5 verdict to Todd Beamer High School on Thurs., May 8.

In first round action of the North Puget Sound League 4A tournament, the Rams had tied the score at 5-all through four innings at the Kent Service Club Community Ball Fields.

Selena Reed scored the TBHS go ahead run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Beamer added two additional runs in the sixth inning.

Marissah Banuelos and Mia Christianson opened the top of the seventh with back to back singles, but were stranded on the bases.

”This was a tough loss,” said MRHS head coach Bret Christianson. “The interference call in the fourth inning cost us. We would have still had the bases loaded.”

Opening action looked like the game would be a runaway for the Titans.

Three runs on four hits in the home half of the first half staked TB to a quick 3-0 lead.

An additional pair of Titan runs against in the second padded the lead to 5-0.

Mount Rainier notched its first run when Molly McCabe rushed home from third base on catcher overthrow.

The Rams then created a furious fourth inning uprising.

Christianson led off with a single to left field. Kelsea Grattenburg followed with a walk. 

Then, Mackenzie Corbin singled ahead of Keira Reichstein’s run-scoring walk. 

Following a Bryana Jenkins RBI single to right field, another runner tried to score but was tossed out at home plate.

McCabe singled before Kyla Flinn singled for two runs and a 5-5 standoff.

However, the Rams lost the runner at third base on an interference call as the rally eventually died without further scoring and the Titans journeyed on to victory.

Mount Rainier was forced into an evening loser-out game against Auburn Mountainview.