EHS Fastpitch Drops 2 Tough Games at Subdistricts, Ending 2011 Season

The Enumclaw High School girl's fastpitch team wrapped up their season Saturday afternoon at the SPSL/Seamount/Bremerton 3A subdistrict playoff tournament with losses to Peninsula 8-5 in game one, and Lakes 3-2 in an elimination game at the Boise Creek Sixplex Baseball/Softball Complex in Enumclaw.

"I thought we battled really good," Enumclaw shortstop Sarah Morrow said.

In game one against the favored Seahawks of Peninsula, the Hornets put together one of their best played games of the season.  Morrow drove in Joslin Pierotti with a hard hit single to give Enumclaw a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning.

Peninsula answered back in the bottom with three runs thanks to a combination of extra base hits, hit by pitch, and a walk to take the lead back at 4-2.

The Hornets would then strike right back with a pair of runs thanks to a two-run single by Kenicia McClellan which scored Molly Lamotte and Kayla Kranz to tie things back up at 4.

The Seahawks would pull away for good in the bottom of the third when Kayla Stelle hit a rocket into the right center field gap for a two-run triple putting Peninsula ahead 6-4. One more run was tacked when Stelle scored on an RBI groundout by Kaitlyn McKinney.

Enumclaw would continue to fight back in the top of the fifth when McClellan knocked in Kranz with a line drive single off the Seahawk pitcher Aspen Ison cutting the lead to 7-5.

The game's final tally was scored in the bottom of the sixth when Peninusla's Alaina Morgan blasted a triple scoring Kendra Barnes to extend the lead for the Seahawks, who off a Enumclaw rally in the top of the seventh and advanced to the winner's bracket; the Hornets were pushed into an elimination game against Lakes shortly after.

With their season on the line, Enumclaw jumped out on top of Lakes right away in the top of the first when Becky Forza ripped a single to left field and then two batters later, Kranz knocked in Forza with a double into the left field that put the Hornets ahead 1-0.

Josie Wicks was in the circle for Enumclaw in game two, holding the Lancers in check during the first three innings by allowing just one base hit. The Hornets took advantage of the opportunity to build their lead in the top of the fourth when Morrow blasted a triple to left-center field scoring Pierotti to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Lakes got to Wicks in the fourth tying the game at 2, thanks to a combination of four walks and two singles forcing the Hornets to go to bullpen with Madelline Pettelin.

After the Lancers scratched out another run to take a 3-2 lead, the game was kept in check by a great defensive play from Morrow out in short left field making a diving catch that thwarted Lakes' effort to extend the lead going into the top of the seventh.

Morrow reflected on that play and a key defensive play from the Peninsula game  that helped the Hornets cause along the way.

"I was just in the moment doing what I could to help our team win," Morrow said.

Enumclaw would keep battling in the top of the seventh as with one out Morrow got on by dropping in a hit just in front of the Lancer outfield but was thrown out for stealing on a tough call at second base; Lakes would hold on to win the contest.

In the midst of the loss ending the season, Morrow found a lot of positives about the team and their progress this season.

"I think we got better and became more of a team as the season went along," she said.

The losses in today's sub-district tournament wrap up the season for the Enumclaw girl's fastpitch squad. With several returning position players and pitchers, however, the 2012 season looks very bright for a return to the State Tournament.