Gerardo Bolong

KENT - Warming to the opportunities presented during supremely stern situations empowered the John F. Kennedy Catholic High School fastpitch softball team to surface as the No. 1 seed to the 3A West Central/Southwest Bi-district tournament after completion of the 2008 3A South Puget Sound League/Seamount League sub-district tournament on Saturday, May 10, at the Service Club Ball Fields.

"Our girls haven't been challenged too much in league," related Lancer head coach Dino Josie about his unbeaten (19-0) defending state champions. "It's nice to have close games against tough competition. We pitched well and played defense well."

Enumclaw offered the toughest test for Kennedy in morning action.

Batting in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 0-0 tie, the Lancers finally settled the issue.

With one out, Maggie Whaley reached first on an infield single. Karli Merlich followed by rifling a single to left field. Facing a 1-0 count, catcher Lindsy Dugan hammered a run-scoring double to left field to close out the stirring struggle.

"I had a good feeling," she stated. "I was looking for a pitch that I could drive. It feels really good and we're pumped."

Lefty hurler Merlich pitched a complete game five-hitter en route to 12 strikeouts and one walk while surviving a pair of menacing Hornet scoring threats.

In the fifth inning, Enumclaw hoisted back-to-back doubles to roost runners on second and third with no outs. Merlich tightened her resolve and concentration to induce the next batter to foul off an attempted bunt after two strikes to account for the first out. Strike outs on the next two hitters calmed the storm for the Lancers.

Opening the seventh inning with a single and a walk, Enumclaw once again pressed to score. Second baseman Kelsey Trautmann fielded a ground ball and threw to shortstop Peggy Mathison for a force out before Merlich struck out the next batter to keep Kennedy alive for the winning eighth inning.

"I was just making sure that I completed my motion while concentrating hard," Merlich explained. "It was all there. It was a great team effort."

Jessica Lewis led the Lancer batters with a 2-for-3 performance.

For the Hornets, Jill Stewart pitched a six-hitter.

Matching up against an athletic Auburn-Riverside ball club for the No. 1 seed in late afternoon play, Kennedy faced nearly as tough a challenge as the morning battle had presented.

Kennedy struck first in the top of the first inning. Lewis ignited the rally with a one-out screaming single to right field. Merlich hammered a stand up double to set up Dugan's sacrifice fly that earned the Lancers a 1-0 lead

It was Merlich that again figured into the scoring in the JFK fourth inning. Merlich stretched a leadoff triple into a run after the Auburn-Riverside center fielder committed a throwing error.

That was all the Texas-Tech bound Merlich needed. She struck out nine batters and allowed only three hits in another complete game shut out.

Aiding her own cause, Merlich also batted 2-for-3 with a triple and a double.

"I worked to improve all my pitches in summer ball ," she said. "Lindsey is a great catcher and my stamina was good."

Merlich was effective in the late innings with her change up.

Stretches of rain made the fielding more difficult as the game progressed.

"The field just kept getting worse," explained Mathison. "Everything, including the balls, was soaking wet. That's Seattle-area weather."

Dugan also had a nice game at bat, going 2-for-2 with a double and RBI.

On the mound for Auburn Riverside, Amanda Fitzsimmons allowed seven hits and struck out six.

"This gives us momentum heading into district," concluded Josie.

The Lancers of Kennedy opened district play on Friday, May 16, against the Lancers of Lakes, the Western Cascade Conference's No. 4 team.