By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AUBURN - With both teams assured of play in games to West Central District III, Kennedy Catholic dropped a 9-5 NPSL 4A fastpitch tournament game to Kentlake at Auburn Mountainview High School on Fri., May 11.

As the No. 10 seed, the Lancers (12-11) will play the SPSL No. 5 seed at Auburn Riverside High School on Tues., May 15, at 4 p.m. for the right to enter the West Central District III/Southwest Washington IV bi-district tournament. The No. 8 seeded Falcons will play the Greater St. Helens No. 3 at the Regional Athletic Center in Lacey on the same day.

Kennedy gave some players the chance to gain more field experience at different positions before entering the loser-out play in game.

On Friday, Kentlake gained the upper hand early and never let go.

Naomi King's two-run base hit and Taylor Wong's RBI single spearheaded a three-run Kentlake first inning. Home team Kennedy Catholic responded on Tatiana Leahey's RBI double in the home half of the inning.

Lancer infielder's colliding on a pop up near the third base line in the third inning allowed the Falcons to get a lead off batter on third base. Allyson Overall launched a fly ball to left field that eluded the grasp of the fielder as the runner and the batter both scored on the play. A single later in the inning plated what would be the eventual winning run.

In the fifth inning, Leahy drew a base on balls ahead of Morgan Mueller's run-scoring triple. Marianna DeSimone then grounded out to send the runner home to bring KC within 6-3.

Three sixth inning Falcon runs were countered by Morgan Mueller's sixth inning two RBI triple, but that was it for the scoring.