It was a weekend of wonder for the John F. Kennedy Lancers.

In warm and windy weather, Kennedy forged ahead to the Class 3A state softball tournament at South End Recreation Area in Tacoma in spite of registering only its second loss of the year, 1-0, to the North Mason Bulldogs in the Class 3A West Central District title game, Saturday, May 20.

JFK got off to a big start on the second day of the tournament at Sprinker Recreation Center with a 6-0 semifinal win over Peninsula.

Continuing her streak of not having allowed an earned run all season, Kennedy's sturdy sophomore hurler Karli Merlich allowed two hits and struck out 11 batters. She also blasted out three hits in four at bats, including a triple. Ashley Engel batted 2-3 with a double. Amanda Clark also hit 2-3 and Sadie Vanderwal was 2-4.

The win set up the game against North Mason. The Lancers and Bulldogs have clashed in the WCD championship game each of the last three years, going 1-1 in those games.

Merlich's robust hitting throughout the sesaon as evidenced by her .732 batting average prompted Lancer head coach Dino Josie to advance the Kennedy athlete to the leadoff position in the championship game in order to give the solid hitter more at bats.

North Mason countered by ordering Bulldog pitcher Katelyn Staley to intentionally walk Merlich in each of her three at bats.

"That is softball, " said Josie. "Strategy is everything, and they used theirs well."

North Mason's lone tally came on an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning.

With runners perched on the corners for the Bulldogs, the runner on first made an attempt to steal second, drawing a throw from Lancer catcher Dew Spadoni to shortstop Peggy Mathison. After the throw was bobbled, Mathison picked up the ball and attempted to tag the runner at second, prompting the third base runner to bolt for home and score the game's only run.

Kennedy's best chance to score came in the first inning with Merlich's leadoff walk and Trautmann's infield single. A groundout advanced both runners, but the next batter hit a hard line drive to the center fielder who alertly threw to second base to double off the runner.

Although the Lancers already had an automatic trip to the state tournament no matter what the outcome of the North Mason game, Josie still wanted the win.

"There is never a good time to lose," he stated. "If that throw had bounced into Mathison's glove instead into the ground, that run likely would not have scored. This (tournament) was still a great experience. Coaching these girls is awesome. Their goal was to go state and they accomplished it."

Merlich went the distance on the mound, allowing four hits and recording seven strikeouts. North Mason's Stanley struck out six batters in a complete game three-hitter.

On Friday, Merlich tossed a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in Kennedy's 9-0 victory against Lakes in quarterfinal action. Brittany Montgomery batted 2-4 with a triple and two RBIs while Ashley Engel was 2-3, including a double, triple, and one RBI. Merlich joined the 11-hit Lancer attack with a 2-2 day, including a double.

"There's nothing like it (the experience at the tournament)," observed Lancer Taylor Trautmann. "It's so exciting because anything can happen and you're out."

Teammate Amanda Clark agreed.

"We just feel we did a great job," she exuded. "It's an exciting, great feeling."

Other Highline area teams met with varying degrees of success.

Peninsula beat Tyee, 7-5, in a late game Friday before playing tough in a Saturday morning game before being eliminated by Lake, 3-1, on Saturday morning.

Tyee head coach Donnie Moore viewed the 14-7 season and tournament experience positively after his team made its first Seamount League tournament in 10 years the week before.

"The experience was great for our underclassmen," he noted. "It gave them confidence. To reach the postseason, they know what it's like and can expect to be here again."

Lindbergh eliminated Highline in the first round, 7-1, while Mount Rainier's season ended abruptly with a 3-0 first-round loss to North Mason.

The Rams finished with a 12-9 record.