Contributed article by Gerardo Bolong

Lisa Kumasaka's nearly perfect pitching and a trio of two-out, lightning strikes for scoring electrified the Seattle Christian Warriors in a five-inning 11-0 Nisqually 1A League victory against Cascade Christian (Puyallup) on the Seattle Christian campus in SeaTac on Wed., May 6.

The Warriors qualified for the West Central District 1A tournament to be held at Spanaway's Sprinker Recreation Center. Seattle Christian hosts Orting on Fri., May 8, before traveling to Adna on Saturday in non league games scheduled for the specific purpose of postseason preparation.

Seattle Christian (12-2) can clinch the league's No. 1 seed to district by winning at Cascade Christian in a scheduled 5 p.m. matchup on Wed., May 12. The Warriors currently stand at 6-1 in league action while Bellevue Christian is 4-2.

For this game, the warriors came out of the box to score in the first inning. Kumasaka reached first base on a one-out infield error and promptly stole second base. One out later, Alyssa Baucom triggered a double to left field, scoring the first Warrior run. Abby Hay followed up with an opposite field, slicing double down the third base line to create a 2-0 Seattle Christian lead.

In the second inning, Seattle Christian manufactured another two-out lightning scoring strike with a runner on first base. Following a wild pitch, Kelli Ronish reached first base, with the lead runner moving up to third base on an infield single, before stealing second base for a second and third situation. Left handed batting Kumasaka sliced a single to plate two runs ahead of a Carlee Ronish run-scoring infield single.

Baucom then stepped up and delivered an RBI double as the Warriors wound up the inning with four runs and an insurmountable 6-0 margin.

Lightning struck the third time for SC in the third inning after its first two batters struck out.
Madisen Fors reached first base by way of an infield error and later moved up to third base on Makenzie May's double. Up stepped Kelli Ronish to punch a two-run single to left field. Kumasaka rifled a run-scoring single down the third base line as the score mounted to 9-0.

As the assailment persisted, Carlee Ronish joined in with an RBI single through the left side ahead of Baucom's through the middle single for the game's final run.

On the mound for the Warriors, right-hander Kumasaka was dominant from the beginning. Kumasaka retired the first 11 Cougar batters before Jamie Hoffman tripled deeply over the left fielder's head to end the perfect game. Cascade Christian High School looked to ruin the shut out as well when Mallory Eckroth punched a ball into short right field where Taelor Willhoite was on patrol. Willhoite briefly fumbled the grounder, but determinedly kept on the ball to throw a strike to a long-stretching first baseman Baucom to nip the runner on a force out at first base to end the fourth inning and preserve the shutout.

"I saw the play clearly," said Willhoite. "I got the ball a little on the side, but stayed with it and got her (the batter) out."

Kumasaka then struck out the side in a 1-2-3 scoreless fifth inning.

"All my pitches were working," said an elated Kumasaka. "The hit was on a high fastball that I hung. I can get away with it on most batters."

Battery mate Abby Hay substantiated the brilliant performance by Kumasaka.

"It was just awesome," she said. "The screwball was really working, today."

Kumasaka struck out nine batters and issued no walks on her assertive one-hitter.

This day's hitting heroes featured a Warrior fearsome foursome.

Baucom completed the game with three hits in as many at bats, including her double with for two RBI and run scored. Kumasaka aided her own cause on a 2-for-3 batting day that featured three RBI and a trio of runs scored. Third baseman Carlee Ronish was successful in 2-of-3 at bats with two RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Kelli Ronish batted 2-for-3, showcasing two RBI and two runs scored.

Besides keeping focused, Seattle Christian is also working on more specific substitution rotations during the final games while also playing tough non league encounters as preparation for post season action.
Head coach Rick Ronish wants his squad to "play all games like they were championship games".