After winning its first six games in a row, the Ballard Beavers fast-pitch softball team was off to its best start in years, then the team began its KingCo schedule against much tougher opponents.

The Beavers trounced non-league opponents Eastside Catholic, West Seattle, Mercer Island, Interlake before defeating KingCo school Garfield 6-0 on March 23.

Ballard was finally stopped by Skyline in a 7-0 loss and Lake Washington 2-0. The Beavers then beat Roosevelt 9-0.

In the Redmond game last week, Ballard lost 6-4.

Last season, opposing coaches ordered their outfielders to back up when junior Leslie Ellingsen went to the plate. The junior with the big bat has not let the team down so far this year.

Ellingsen went 4-4, with two singles, a home run and four runs batted in during the West Seattle game. She had similar numbers against the Garfield Bulldogs, a KingCo city rival.

"Leslie is hitting well," said Head Coach Al Lowe.

Outfielder Marit Mork, another senior sparked the team during the West Seattle game to rally the Beavers.

The performance by other players proved that Ballard has depth for 2006. Sophomore Kelly Ohm went 3-3, with three singles, two RBI and she scored two runs against Interlake. Gussin was 2-2 and scored two runs. Freshman Amanda Hawley, went 2-3.

The pitching combination of Ellingsen and sophomore Nicole Murray recorded 12 strikeouts in the Mercer Island game.

Sophomore Tara French and Murray struck out 12 Interlake players in that matchup.

While Ellingsen, a multi-sport athlete is more of a power thrower, French is a control pitcher. Each player compliments the other.

Ballard is playing well despite a rash of injuries. Freshman Elisa Vatn's injury is the most severe. She has torn an ACL and is out for six months.

With Vatn's loss, the team is short one player, but still has 13 girls left on the roster and Lowe did not seem concerned.

Top third baseman , sophomore Hallie Hemmingsen, was out briefly and is now back. Sophomores Heather Casper and Megan Peterson have also been hurt.

This has forced Head Coach Al Lowe to juggle his lineups and put players in different defensive roles.

Players are getting healthy and filling the positions they earned in training camp. Lowe says his team is beginning to gell.

The meat of the KingCo schedule is waiting for the Beavers. "We're ready. If we stay healthy we are good to go," said Lowe.

Eastlake visits Ballard on April 12 at Lower Woodland. Ballard travels to Juanita on April 19 and plays Woodinville on April 21.