Untimely hitting handcuffed the Todd Beamer fastpitch team in an otherwise well played 4-3 loss to visiting cellar dweller Bethel on Friday, April 23.

Despite the tough loss, the Titans' 7-5 SPSL 4A South record kept them in third place behind Puyallup (9-1) and Rogers of Puyallup (9-2). Beamer moved to 9-6 overall. Bethel improved to 2-4 in league.

"Bethel played a good game with spectacular fielding and we fielded well," observed third-year Beamer head coach Dave Abrahamson.

"It was a well played game. Everyone on both sides put in a good effort. We found our bats a little late. We're much improved from last year. Our fielding is better, but our hitting is inconsistent."

Following last season's historic first qualification for postseason, including district, the Titans hope to improve upon last year's 11-11 overall record. Five returning starters and seven seniors back up the optomism. Marshall-University bound catcher Taylor Winton and Seattle University signee center fielder Sarah Petosa are solid seniors who show hitting strength. The Titans have relied heavily upon sophomore pitcher Emma Blauser and seniors Courtney Taylor and Brianne Grosche. Jenny Floyd, Sammie Sunitsch and Halle Colson are talented freshmen.

Beamer grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Petosa was hit by a pitch as she led off for the Titans. Blauser followed with a one-baser ahead of a Winton run-scoring double. Three hits in the third innning produced a lone tally for the Braves.

Bethel threatened to score again with a leadoff triple in the fourth inning, but the defense and a Blauser strikeout stopped the danger.

Three consecutive innings of scorelessness sent the game into extra innings. Bethel got the go ahead runs by virtue of an infield error and three consecutive hits that tallied three eighth inning runs.

Todd Beamer continued toiling to nearly overturn the Braves' seeming control of the verdict with a home at bat rally in the eighth. Sunitsch led off with a single before Colson added fuel to the comeback attempt by following with her second single in three at bats. Drawing a walk on five pitches, Petosa loaded the bases for the Titans. Lifting a fly ball out to left field, Blauser sacrificed one run home.

Following an infield pop out, Brianna Grosche bunted and beat the throw to first base. As the Bethel first baseman held the ball and gazed at the bases, Colson streaked home to make the score 4-3 with the potential deadlocking run now at third base. Suddenly, a pop fly out to first base derailed the beamer express.

Colson batted 2-for-3 to pace the Titan offense. Blauser went the distance on the mound, yielding 4 runs (3 earned) on six hits with 4 strikeouts and two walks.