By Gerardo Bolong

SPANAWAY - Kennedy Catholic was eliminated from Class WCD/ Southwest bi-district girls softball tournament action on Sat., May 24, but the Lancers went down fighting to the very end.

Wilson of Tacoma had just taken a 7-5 lead with a two-run top of the seventh inning rally. The first two batters in the Lancer at bat reached base before Kennedy Catholic bats were completely silenced to end the game.

"This was the same type of game we had against Columbia River," Kennedy coach Dino Josie said. "Our young girls that normally get the hits weren't able to this time. They'll be back (here) again."

Wilson took a 1-0 lead to open the game before a one-out Sierra Bains infield single preceded Samantha Isernio's ground out that advanced the runner to second base. Ninth grader Elise Turpen stroked an opposite field single to left field to bring Kennedy Catholic into a 1-1 standoff after one inning.

Haley Kormanik scored a go ahead run for KC in the second after previously leading off with a single when Jordan Cossette doubled.
Back came Wilson on an infield error and single that set up Shyann Albert for a 2-run third inning double.

In the fourth, walks, infield hits and fielding errors fueled a 3-run Lancer surge into a 5-3 Kennedy Catholic margin.

It was Albert in action, again, with a 2 RBI Wilson double that squared the proceedings at 5-5, in the sixth inning ahead of the climactic series of events.

"This was a great year," said Josie. "It's a young team and we'll be back. We had super senior leadership."

Bains has been building to get Kennedy back into state after watching pitcher Karli Merlich pitch Kennedy to state championships in 2007 and 2008.

"This was the farthest we've gotten since I've been on the team," said the versatile senior. "The team played hard and had great heart. This was a special season and I had a fun year. I can't wait to see them play next year."

Sierra Bains, Haley Beebe, Lia Conrath, Jordan Cossette, Maggie Gallagher, Samantha Isernio, Brittney Johns, Delaney Cox, Rose Koch (knee injury), Haley Kormanik, Nicole Miller, Emily Porter, Elise Turpen, Olivia Santiago, Isabella Sarkies and Alanna Smith are the rostered Kennedy Catholic players. Head coach Josie is assisted by Mike Trautmann, Jim Perkins, Ashley Davis (2009 graduate) and Taylor Trautmann (2006 and daughter of Mike Trautmann).

Kennedy finished with a 14-0 league season and 21-3 overall.
Scorekeeper is Chelly Bassett and Bob Bourgette is the athletic director.