After two days of rain, the West Central District 4A fastpitch softball tournament finally began with Thomas Jefferson displaying strong elements in all areas with an 11-1 six inning demolition of Bellarmine Prep on Monday, May 24, at the Sprinker Recreation Center.
"This win really gives us confidence going into the rest of the games," Cassidy DeWaele enthusiastically intoned.
Jefferson showed all the confidence of a team primed for a state berth from the opening innings.
In the second inning, Christi Bruin led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. DeWaele walked and one ground out later Alyssa Keyes doubled two runs home.
For the Raiders, this was just a warm up for greater dividends as the game continued.
Hannah Kiyohara's lead off, inside the park home run triggered a three-run, five-hit inning. Jefferson kept up the offense, scoring three runs in the fifth inning and an additional five in the sixth for the early dismissal of the Lions.
"When I saw the left fielder bobble the ball slightly, I decided to go for home," recalled Kiyohara.
Senior shortstop Kiyohara finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and the home run as a major part of the Raider 13-hit attack. Lexi Goranson knocked out three singles, including a great bunt, in four at bats. Michaela Patton provided three hits in four at bats and produced three RBI. Christi Bruin was 2-for-3 with an RBI and double while Allie Crowe batted 2-for-4.
"Our defense was great and our bats were on," exclaimed Goranson.
Katie Jackson hurled a six-hitter.
No. 2 Narrows League Stadium later forced the Raiders into the loser-out bracket, 5-2. Heidy Wells struck out 13 Jefferson batters while allowing only five hits.
The Tigers struck first on a three-spot in the bottom of the first inning, but Jefferson retaliated with a pair of runs in the top of the third on Hannah Kiyohara's two-run homer, but Stadium responded by adding two tallies in the bottom of the inning and Wells shut out Jefferson the rest of the way.
Kiyohara led Jefferson with a 2-for-3 batting game that included two RBI and a home run and Bruin hit 2-for-3 with a double.
