By ERICK WALKER
ewalker@kentreporter.com
The pitching was there for the Kentwood High fastpitch team Friday afternoon at Tacoma’s South End Recreation Area.
The offense and defense, however, were not.
Despite a pair of gems from senior ace Kayla Evans, the Conquerors bowed out of the Class 4A state tournament in two games on Friday, falling to Mountlake Terrace 1-0 in the opener before being eliminated by Kennewick, 3-2.
Evans, who was the team’s No. 2 pitcher a year ago, threw a no-hitter in the opening loss to Mountlake Terrace.
“I didn’t realize I had a not hitter until after the game,” Evans said. “The most frustrating part is … we didn’t win.”
Kentwood, however, was in position to do just that in the following game.
The Conquerors (18-8) took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning against Kennewick, before the Lions struck for three runs − only one of which was earned − on a pair of hits and three Kentwood errors.
“She pitched her heart out and that’s what we asked her to do. I don’t think a lot of people gave her a lot of credit coming into the season and she stepped up big time this year,” said Kentwood coach Jason Wisor. “For her to go out like this is tough. She deserves the two wins that she got today and we should be in a different spot.”
Indeed.
However, the Conquerors were unable to muster the same kind of offense they produced throughout the regular season. Kentwood came into the tournament averaging six runs per game, but managed just two in the entire tournament.
Mountlake Terrace ace Kori Seidlitz handcuffed Kentwood in the opener, striking out 13 batters.
The Hawks plated their lone run in the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk. The Conquerors, however, set up the run with a pair of errors.
Despite essentially outperforming Seidlitz, Evans took the blame.
“It’s frustrating. I am mad at myself,” said Evans, who allowed just one earned run, five hits and struck out nine in a pair of complete games in the circle. “The one error I had … the run would not have scored.”
Meanwhile, the Conquerors managed just a pair of doubles by Katie Adams in the opening loss.
Kentwood appeared to have righted the ship against Kennewick. The Conquerors took a 1-0 lead in the second on a single to right field by Bailey Marshall, scoring Adams. Marshall pushed the lead to 2-0 in the fourth, lashing a line-drive single to right field, again scoring Adams.
The wheels, however, came off for the Conquerors with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when the Lions struck for all three of their runs. Kennewick’s Sara Bakos drove home Gabriel McCallister with the first run on a liner to right field. McCallister reached on a weakly hit infield single, then advanced to second on an errant Kentwood throw. Bakos tied the game 2-2 moments later on another Kentwood miscue.
Kennewick added its final run on a double down the left field line by Taylor Bakos, scoring Eryn Nelson from first base. It was the only ball hit hard by the Lions the entire afternoon.
It was a tough way to what has been a rather successful season for Kentwood, which won its first South Puget Sound League title since 1994 this year.
“Just a couple of little things here and there,” Wisor said. “Some missed plays, and our offense didn’t give us a lot of support. It’s tough to win games when you only score two runs.”
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