Courtesy article by Gerardo Bolong

Solid pitching and timely hitting at the Columbia Playfields in Richland on Fri., May 29, pushed Seattle Christian to a 9-5 victory against South Whidbey in a 10 a.m. opening round game of the 2015 WIAA/Dairy Framers of Washington/Les Schwab 1A softball tournament.

Seattle Christian advanced to a 4 p.m. quarterfinal winners bracket game against La Center.

"We strung together five straight hits in the second inning," said Warrior head coach Rick Ronish. "After that, every time South Whidbey scored in the top half inning, we answered in the bottom."

The key second inning for home team Seattle Christian began with a hit from Mikayla Kogle. Madisen Fors followed with another hit to precede additional base hits from Makenzie May, Kelli Ronish and Lisa Kumasaka. Carlee Ronish capped the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly.

In the fourth inning, the South Whidbey Falcons put together a pair of runs that the Warriors countered by scoring four runs of their own in the home half.

Putting some pressure on their opponents, the Falcons ripped off three runs in the top of the fifth inning to close within 8-5, but the battling Warriors were not to be denied.

An additional tally was registered in the bottom of the inning, but South Whidbey was unable to light up the scoreboard again. Right handed pitcher Kumasaka shut down the Falcons in the final two innings to close the curtain on the Warrior win.

Kumasaka closed out her seven-inning complete game victory with an eight-hitter that featured six strikeouts and no walks.

From the batter's box, Kumasaka was 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored. Kelli Ronish batted 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored.