Sometimes, being up 9-0 is still too close for comfort.
Fortunately for the Rogers Rams, they were able to hold on for a 9-7 win over Tahoma in the South Puget Sound League 4A fastpitch tournament on Thursday at Kent Service Park.
Rogers got off to a quick start, scoring nine times in the first three innings. Senior infielder Halee Dew hit her first home run of the season to open the second inning, and she scored again in the third.
But Tahoma started charging back in the fourth, scoring five runs.
“We went from being up 9-0 … ” Rams coach Jacy Ramsey said. “I just had walked into the dugout and was like ‘Yeah we’re up by nine, but I’m not feeling safe,’ and lo and behold, they came back, and we weren’t safe anymore.”
Ramsey wasn’t surprised by the intensity, though.
“It’s the playoffs, and everyone brings their A-game,” she said. “Everyone brings their bats to the plate and does what they can to make sure that at the end of the game, they’re the ones with the most.”
Tahoma senior pitcher Jordan Walley was 3-for-4 at the plate, including a home run in the fifth.
“They started hitting off us, but we battled back and did what we are known to do,” said winning pitcher Tess Dixon, a sophomore who was also 3-for-4 after hitting two home runs and driving in five runs in Rogers’ 10-9 opening-round win against Kentwood.
Still, Tahoma coach Tom Milligan wasn’t disappointed by his team’s performance.
“It was nice to get the bleeding to stop and actually see the offense come alive,” he said. “We were a couple hits and baserunners from tying that thing up.”
Rogers will face SPSL South champion and cross-town rival Emerald Ridge at 4 p.m. today.
Led by junior pitcher Katie Jackson, Thomas Jefferson also secured a spot in the semifinals by beating Kentridge, 9-8.
“It feels really good,” Raiders coach Chad Fahlander said. “It’s difficult to beat a team three times. We did not want to play them – they’re hot at the right time.”
Jefferson, which shut out Todd Beamer, 10-0, in the opening round, will face SPSL North champion Kentlake in the semifinals today.
“Whoever we play … will just be in our way,” Fahlander said.
Also in Thursday’s quarterfinals, Beamer beat Puyallup, 11-3, and Kentwood held on to take a 4-3 win over Spanaway Lake.
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