QUILCENE — Quilcene is in reach of its ninth straight Class 1B SeaTac League softball title after a 20-1 win over Pope John Paul II in five innings on Thursday.
The Rangers (6-0, 9-4) is tied with Rainier Christian (6-0, 10-3) for first place with two huge games against the Mustangs next week, a home contest Tuesday and a road trip Thursday.
“Next week is going to be all about who wants it the most,” Quilcene coach Mark Thompson said. “This team has come a long way over the last two months and I like our chances.”
Against Pope John Paul II, Kayla Ward recorded an efficient two-hitter, completing the game in just 59 pitches.
“Kayla sure responded today, as did her team,” Thompson said. “She lived on the corners all game and pitched with confidence.”
The win improved Ward’s record to 7-1 on the season, and lowered her earned run average to under 4.
Quilcene posted eight runs in the second and nine more in the third to take the upper hand.
“The Rangers’ second inning was sparked by a Madison Coffey RBI double and a two-RBI single by McKenzie Kieffer,” Thompson said. Eighth grader Savannah McBride also added a single in the inning in route to a 4 for 4 day at the plate.
Harmony Scholz hit an RBI double to highlight the nine-run third frame.
Thompson said Brittney Beukes had another big day, going 4 for 5 with a double, scoring three runs and driving in three more. Lauren McCarthy chipped in with a 3 for 4 performance and recorded a double play in the field to close out Pope John Paul II’s fourth inning.
“Its tough to not be happy with how we swung the bats today,” Thompson said. “Up and down the lineup we got production.”
Quilcene 20, Pope John Paul II 1
PJP 1 0 0 0 0 — 1 2 5
Quil 3 8 9 0 x — 20 17 1
WP: Ward
Hitting
Quilcene — B. Beukes 4-5, 3RBI; Madison Coffey 1-4, 2B, 2RBI; Natalie Coffey 1-3, 2RBI; McKenzie Kieffer 1-3 2RBI; Scholz 2-3 2B 2RBI; McBride 4-4, RBI; McCarthy 3-4, 2RBI; Love 1-2, 2RBI
North Mason 20, Quilcene 6
Earlier in the week, Quilcene stepped up three classes to play Class 2A North Mason and fell 20-6 to the Bulldogs in Belfair.
Thompson said the Rangers pitching staff struggled to throw strikes, walking 11 and hitting five batters, while the Quilcene defense also struggled, with errors coming on normally routine plays.
Brittney Beukes started the game, but only lasted a 1/3 of an inning, with Kayla Ward following up going 1 2/3 innings.
“Kayla struggled, but we still have tremendous confidence in her,” Thompson said. “Young pitchers are going to have small setbacks in their development, she will bounce back.”
Natalie Coffey finished up for the Rangers, pitching two innings, and only giving up two earned runs with just one walk.
Thompson said the Rangers were a bit better on offense, in which the team either scored or threatened to score in all five innings. While only registering four hits, Quilcene hit the ball hard, did a good job moving runners up, and only struck out three times against what Thompson said was the best pitching they faced all season.
Madison Coffey continued her hot hitting, going 2 for 3 with a double, with Natalie Coffey and McKenzie Kieffer each adding a hit. Marissa Kieffer hit two sacrifice flies for a pair of RBIs, and Harmony Scholz also added a sacrifice RBI.
“Sure, there were some things we could have done, are capable of doing, to make this game much closer, but regardless of the result this is the type of game our team needed at this stage of the season,” Thompson said. “We will learn from it and come out a better team.”
North Mason 20, Quilcene 6
Quil 0 0 2 0 4 — 6 4 3
NM 7 8 4 0 X — 20 11 2
LP: Ward
Hitting
Quilcene — Natalie Coffey 1-2; Madison Coffey 2-3, 2B, 2RBI; McKenzie Kieffer 1-2
________
Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
