The Ballard High School softball team used timely hitting and stellar pitching and defense to grind out a 3-1 win against Newport April 19.

Newport scored first with a run in the top of the first inning. But, Ballard struck back in the bottom of the first when junior Bernie Cardon's single brought sophomore Amry Kimmerly home.

For the next three innings, it was a defensive battle with neither team getting on the board.

"It's one of those situations where you hope the bats wake up in time," coach Kyle Gray said.

The Beavers finally mounted their offensive attack in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Freshman Brittney Blokker was walked and senior Sophie-Overlock Pauley singled.

A missed throw by Newport advanced both runners, and junior Karissa Marshall brought them both home with a two-out single up the middle, giving Ballard a 3-1 lead.

Freshman pitcher Andrea Jewett preserved the win, getting out of a jam in the sixth inning with runners on first and third and retiring the first three batters in the seventh.

Jewett finished with five strikeouts and four hits in seven innings.

Gray said he was confident his team would win once they took the lead with how Jewett and the Ballard defense were playing.

"Andrea pitched an amazing game, and the defense played pretty well behind her," he said.

The win was Ballard's closest of the season. The team's previous four wins were by an average of 10.5 runs.

Gray said the team's 4-3 loss to Lake Washington in the final inning April 12 showed the players that they have to finish games strong.

The team was able to maintain its focus late in the game against Newport, which is something it has been working on, he said.

The Beavers raised their record to 2-4 in KingCo and 6-4 overall. They face Issaquah at 4:30 p.m. on April 21 at Issaquah High School.