Courtesy article by Gerardo Bolong

Pitching dominated in a Seattle Christian 4-2 state 1A softball victory against Southwest Washington state title contender La Center in Fri., May 29, afternoon action at he Columbia Playfields in Richland.

With the win, the persistent Warriors qualified for a Saturday morning, May 30, winners bracket semifinal against Southwest Washington No. 2 Montesano.

Seattle Christian grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed, although the Wildcats kept it close through the duration.

La Center fired back with a single run in the bottom of the second inning to notch the exciting encounter at 1-1.

As the tenseness tightened up, so did the field action.

The Warriors earned a 2-1 edge on a third inning tally only to have the Wildcats work their way back into a 2-2 deadlock that held through four complete innings.

Senior Alyssa Baucom gave Seattle Christian the lead for good by blasting a towering solo home run over the left field fence for a 3-2 Warrior lead that was enhanced by a seventh inning SC run.

Baucom's homer was satisfyingly sufficient for Warrior mound ace Lisa Kumasaka, who toed the rubber brilliantly to complete a five-hitter that included four strikeouts and only one walk as she outdueled LC pitcher Abby England.

Batting was also a strong point for Kumasaka, who batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. Carlee Ronish bombed one run home on a 2-for-4 batting day with a run scored.

Adding to the Seattle Christian batting arsenal were Baucom (2-for-4, home run, RBI, run scored), Madisen Fors (2-for-3) and Taelor Willhote (2-for-4).