By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AUBURN - Seven third inning runs broke open a close game and propelled Bellarmne Prep to an 11-1 six inning victory against Kennedy Catholic in a play-in to the 4A West Central District/Southwest bi-district fastpitch tournament, loser-out encounter at the Auburn Riverside High School Complex on Tues., May 15.

Besides ending the Lancer season, the game marked the end of head coach Dino Josie's storied 25-year coaching career.

The Metro officials umpiring the game as well as the West Central District officials made announcements thanking coach Josie for his service.

After meeting with his team for one final on the field encouragement and advice plus praising his assistant coaches, the love for his players was evident before he took time for some final thoughts to be expressed.

"It was a close game for two innings," coach Josie said. "We left runners on base and they left runners on base. Then, they had those bloop hits and we couldn't get hits with runners on base. The girls are young with good attitudes and have a chance to continue improving."

The Lions from Tacoma put the Lancers on a rocky road by blasting four hits for three first inning runs.

Tatiana Leahy tagged a high fast ball and clocked it over 185 feet as it cleared the left field fence.

Then came the second inning in which both teams had runners in scoring position, but failed to score.

BP had runners on first and third with two out with no scoring.

KC placed runners on second and third by way of a Mikaela Silva single and a hit batter that eventually led to both runners in scoring position, all to no avail.

Contrasting team at bats in the third inning decided the final outcome.

After the Lions ripped the ball for a hard hit double and single, short wedge shot hits that dropped just in front of infielders or just over the infielders accounted for two RBI, Bellarmine resumed the hard hitting for a three-run double and Haley McMaster’s towering two-run homer in the seven-run at bat.

The contrast of fortunes was clearly exhibited when the Lancers tried to return fire in the bottom of the inning. Hanna Scandiffio legged out an infield single to lead off. Leahy drew a walk before both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch. Morgan Mueller drew a base on balls to load the bases, but Lion pitcher Chelsea Smith was up to the challenge and struck out the next three batters to quell the possible game changer. Bellarmine Prep added a final tally in the sixth inning as Smith completed her six-inning win with Leahy's homer on a high fastball as her only big mistake.

Players Sarynn Good, Audrey Porter, Marianna DeSimone. Camryn Yust, Grace Ginther, Mikaela Silva, Hanna Scanfiffio, Morgan Mueller, Lizzie Lovell, Kaley Manns, Brianna Blayney, Jessie Obrigewitsch, Hailee Simpson, Tatian Leahy and Kendal Khalaf represented the 11-10 Kennedy Catholic team.

Assisting head coach Josie in his final year are Frank Scandiffio, Garrett Cook and Donnie Moore. Sam Reed is the athletic director.