SPANAWAY - A fine season of perseverance for the John F. Kennedy Catholic girls fastpitch softball team finally came to an end on the Sprinker Recreation fields on the morning of Saturday, May 21.

Lack of key hitting limited the Lancer effectiveness in a 3-0 loss to the Mountain View Thunder at the Class 3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament as JFK finished at 15-6 overall.

Despite managing only two hits for the game, the Lancers stayed close.

Mountain View chipped away for single runs in innings one, three and four before a golden opportunity presented itself in the top of the fitfth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded junior Angie Isernio singled past the shortstop but the runner from second base then collided with the shortstop on a close call that ended with the runner being called out for interference, thus ending the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kennedy Catholic again loaded the bases with two outs.

After fouling off numerous pitches, the Lancer batter grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

"We just weren't able to get key hits," said Seamount League coach of the year Dino Josie.

On Friday, Kennedy Catholic registered only four hits in a 9-1 loss to the Kelso Highlanders. Despite the absence of hitting, the fighting Lancers stayed close for much of the game. Kelso took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, but Kennedy returned fire to score a run in the top of the fourth.

Matching the KC tally with one of their own in the home half of the inning, the Highlanders from Southwest Washington exploded for five fifth inning runs on the way to a game total of nine runs on 16 hits in the 9-1 victory.

"It was tough pitching," said Kelsey Trautmann. "We worked hard all season at practice. Sierra Bains stepped up to help Kate (Lewis) with pitching. Winning against Highline was my best memory. We were able to pull through. No matter what the situation was, we had each other's backs."

Amy Basset agreed.

"Making it here was a great accomplishment," she said. "The pitching was tough."

Many observers felt that this was the year when the Seamount title could go to another school. Highline and Lindbergh were primed to challenge a Lancer team that was dotted with younger and less experience freshman and sophomores.

Comeback 10-9 and 6-3 victories against the Highline Pirates provided the difference in Kennedy's 13-1 Seamount League championship versus runner ups Highline and Lindbergh which notched 10-3 marks.

This season's Lancer season also provided the horizon for even greater achievements next season.

"Our young pitchers (freshman Lewis and sophomore Bains will get more experience," Josie said. "The whole game is based on pitching.hen the games started, our young kids got better facing tougher competition. A lot of freshman and sophomores got great leadership from our seniors. Our pitchers and speed will be very good. Kate really matured as a pitcher. Give the credit to her. This team had a really good relationship."

Graduating senior leadership includes Jenni Grosz, Jenny Donohue, Kelsey Trautmann and Amy Bassett.

Other rostered players for the red, white and blue clad Lancers are Natalie Budner, Angie Isernio, Jordan Nakatani, Sarah Taylor, Keli Brown, Kate Lewis, Bailee DePhelps, Shannon Josie, Sierra Bains, Tasha Beal, Miranda Goff, Halle Davis, Alexis Rodal and Shelby Klahn.

Assisting Josie are coaches Mike Trautmann, Todd Cassette, Jennifer Jinka, Jeff Jinka and Laura Jeffers. The manager is Chelly Bassett.

Bob Bourgette is the athletic director.