Bonney Lake fastpitch creates three-way tie for title

Published 1:39 pm Monday, May 10, 2010

The Bonney Lake High fastpitch team defeated Sumner 10-1 in its final game, which made the Panthers’ South Puget Sound League 3A record 12-4, creating a three-way tie for first place with Franklin Pierce and Auburn Mountainview.

It was decided by league officials for seeding purposes, by virtue of its power rankings, the Cardinals would be the No. 1 seed going into the subdistrict tournament at Enumclaw’s Boise Creek Sixplex. Bonney Lake and Auburn Mountainview met for a deciding game Monday in Sumner to see who would be seeded second and third.

The Panthers were ready to host the Spartans Thursday, but their diamond was not playable so the game moved to Sumner.

The Spartans got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Then, in the bottom of the initial frame, the Panthers pounced on Sumner and reeled off four runs.

Bonney Lake’s Taylor Watkins went 2 for 4 and Chloe Beal went 2 for 3 from the dish.

Panther pitcher Rendi Johnson relinquished a single walk and fanned two Sumner batters in seven innings of toil.

“We are coming into subs kind of beat up and some of the girls on the team have not been making good enough grades to be eligible to play,” Panther coach Andrew Sage said.

“I’ve always thought that a team’s character is defined by how well its does in the face of adversity though. So I am looking forward to the challenge.”