Great Season Lions!

The Bellarmine Lions Fastpitch team finished a very successful season, which saw them finish third in league, second in the Narrows League tournament, a 3-1 record at the West Central District Tournament, and a 9th place finish at the state tournament.

This year's team overcame great adversity, battling injuries and illnesses, to post Bellarmine's first ever victory at the state fastpitch tournament. The Lion's finished the season with an overall record of 17-13, which saw them have a strong finish to the year going 10-4 in their last 14 games.

Thank you to everyone who supported Lion's Fastpitch this season, especially our great parents! And especially thank you to the players for making the season so special!

Coach Craig Coovert

State Tournament: Newport 7 Bellarmine 3

May 24, 2013          Merkel #4            6:45

Bellarmine      0 0 0   0 0 0   3      3 – 7 - 2

Newport         0 1 2   2 0 2   x      7 – 8 - 1

Courtney Schwan, Rachel Barcena (4) and Abby McDonald

Kat Wood and Indiana Coxey

      Newport used a two-out double and a single to get a run in the second.

      Newport used a single, a triple, and an infield out to get two runs in the third.

      Newport used a single, a sacrifice, a wild pitch, a single, another wild pitch, a single, and an error to get two runs in the fourth.

      Newport used two walks and a three base throwing error to get two runs in the sixth.

      Celine Woo lined a single to center to open the seventh.  After an out Rachel Sorensen singled into right to move Woo to second.  After a second out Alyssa McKiernan drove the first pitch over the left field fence for a home run scoring Woo and Sorensen before her.

      Courtney Schwan started and pitched 3 1/3 innings.  Rachel Barcena pitched the last 2 2/3 innings.  She struck out six and gave up no earned runs.

      Good defensive plays were made by Rachel Sorensen who fielded a blooper to right on one hop and threw to Alexa Ostrander to force the lead runner at second for the second out in the 1st; by Courtney Schwan who fielded a hard one hopper to the mound and threw to Becca Sorensen covering first for the first out in the 2nd; by Becca Sorensen who went way to her left to field a grounder and threw the batter out for the second out in the 3rd; and by Abby McDonald who retrieved a pitch that went to the backstop and still got back to the plate in time to tag the runner trying to score from third for the second out in the 6th.

State Tournament: Bellarmine 12 Skyview 8

May 24, 2013            Merkel #4                2:15

Skyview         0 6 0   1 0 0   1       8 – 10 - 1

Bellarmine      2 7 1   0 0 2   x      12 – 11 - 3

Michelle Brincefield, Emily Dobbin (2), Michelle Brincefield (2) and Megan

     Settje

Rachel Barcena, Courtney Schwan (2) and Abby McDonald

      Alyssa McKiernan drove a 1-1 pitch over the center field fence for a solo home run to lead off the first.  Becca Sorensen walked on four pitches.  Alex DeStephano grounded out pitcher to first to move Sorensen to second.  Sorensen took third on a wild pitch.  Courtney Schwan singled to left to score Sorensen.

      Skyview used a hit batter (it should have been a foul ball, it hit off the end of the bat), a sacrifice and a throwing error, four singles, and a double to get six runs in the second.

      Alexa Ostrander lined a single to center to open the second and took second on a wild pitch.  Alyssa McKiernan walked.  Becca Sorensen neatly sacrificed the runners to third and second.  Alex DeStephano was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Courtney Schwan drove the first pitch over the right center field fence for a grand slam home run scoring Ostrander, McKiernan, and DeStephano before her.  Rachel Barcena drove a 1-1 pitch over the right center field fence.  It was first ruled a home run, but then it was changed to a double.  They ruled it went through the fence.  Celine Woo walked.  Ashlynn Ota walked to load the bases.  After a second out Alexa Ostrander walked to score Barcena.  Alyssa McKiernan walked to score Woo.  Becca Sorensen hit a grounder to third.  When the throw to first bounced away, Ota scored.

      Courtney Schwan led off the third with her second home run of the game -- a solo shot way over the left center field fence.

      Skyview used a double and two ground outs to get a run in the fourth.

      Alexa Ostrander walked to open the sixth and took second on a wild pitch.  Alyssa McKiernan drove a 3-1 pitch over the left center field fence for her second home run of the game scoring Ostrander before her.

      Skyview used a double, an infield out, and an error to get a run in the seventh.

      Rachel Barcena started and pitched 1 2/3 innings.  Courtney Schwan pitched the last 5 1/3 innings for the win.  She gave up only one earned run.

      Good defensive plays were made by Rachel Sorensen who charged a blooper into left, caught it on one bounce, and threw to Celine Woo at third to force the lead runner for the first out in the 2nd; by Alexa Ostrander who fielded a grounder with the runner cutting in front of her and threw the batter out for the first out in the 4th; by Becca Sorensen who went behind the mound to field a ball and threw the batter out to end the 4th; by Celine Woo who fielded a grounder and got the batter for the first out in the 5th; by Rachel Sorensen who fielded a double off the wall in right and quickly hit the cut off person to save a run in the 5th; by Courtney Schwan who pounded on a one hopper and threw the batter out to end the 5th; and by Courtney Schwan who handled three more come backers for the first and second outs in the 6th and the first out in the 7th.

Note: This was Bellarmine’s first ever win at the state fastpitch tournament since Bellarmine made the switch from slowpitch to fastpitch over 20 years ago.

State Tournament: Moses Lake 3 Bellarmine 1

May 24, 2013            Merkel #2                 12:00

Bellarmine      0 0 0   0 0 1   0      1 – 5 - 2

Moses Lake      2 0 1   0 0 0   x      3 – 3 - 0

Courtney Schwan and Abby McDonald

Haylie Vanloctheim and Tressa Radach

      Moses Lake used a single and a home run to get two runs in the first.

      Moses Lake used a walk, a wild pitch, and an error to get a run in the third.

      Alexa Ostrander walked to open the sixth.  Alyssa McKiernan doubled into the right field corner to move Ostrander to third.  After an out Alex DeStephano hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Ostrander.

      Courtney Schwan started and went the distance.  She struck out 10 including the side in order in the second.  She gave up just three hits and only two earned runs.

      Good defensive plays were made by Becca Sorensen who went way to her left and fed to Alex DeStephano to get the lead off batter in the 1st; and by Courtney Schwan who caught a line drive to end the 4th.

Bellarmine 3 Olympia 2

May 9, 2013        SERA             3:10

Bellarmine      1 1 0   0 0 1   0      3 – 8 - 0

Olympia         0 1 0   0 0 1   0      2 – 5 - 2

Rachel Barcena, Courtney Schwan (6) and Abby McDonald

Maddy Stensby and Adrianna Rupright

      Becca Sorensen beat out an infield single with one out in the first.  Courtney Schwan singled to right to move Sorensen to third.  Alex DeStephano grounded out short to first to score Sorensen.

      Rachel Sorensen walked to open the second.  Ashlynn Ota singled to left to move Sorensen to second.  Celine Woo put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to third and second.  With Alexa Ostrander at bat Rachel Sorensen scored on a wild pitch.

      Olympia used a walk, a single, a sacrifice, and a ground out to get a run in the second.

      Alex DeStephano singled to center to open the sixth.  DeStephano stole second and went to third when the catcher’s throw went into center.  Rachel Barcena put down a bunt.  The pitcher fielded the bunt and threw to the catcher who tagged DeStephano out despite our protest that she blocked the plate up the line without the ball.  Barcena was safe at first on the fielder’s choice.  Madison Covell courtesy ran for Barcena.  When the catcher threw wide of first on a pickoff attempt, Covell took second.  After a second out Ashlynn Ota singled to center to score Covell.

      Olympia used three singles to get a run in the sixth.

      Rachel Barcena pitched five strong innings to get the win.  She struck out five and gave up only two singles.  Courtney Schwan pitched the last two innings for the save.  She retired the last five batters in order (three of them by strike outs.)

      Good defensive plays were made by:  Alex DeStephano who went to the fence to catch a foul pop up to end the 1st; by Rachel Barcena who with second and first occupied stabbed a bunt to her left and threw to Becca Sorensen covering first for the first out in the 2nd; by Alexa Ostrander who showed her range by going behind third to make a snow-cone catch of a pop up for the second out in the 3rd; by Rachel Barcena who fielded a sacrifice bunt and threw to Becca Sorensen covering first for the second out in the 5th; by Alyssa McKiernan who with runners on second and first charged a single to center and threw (too late) to Abby McDonald at the plate trying to get the runner from second but Abby McDonald alertly threw a strike to Celine Woo at third who slapped the tag down on the runner from first trying to go to third and then lifted her glove high for the umpire to see for the first out in the 6th; and by Alex DeStephano who called everyone off and took a towering pop up herself for the first out in the 7th.

      This win means that Bellarmine will play for the Narrows League Tournament Championship tomorrow against South Kitsap.

Bellarmine 7 Central Kitsap 2

May 9, 2013       SERA          1:00

Central Kitsap      0 0 0   0 0 2   0      2 -  4 - 2

Bellarmine          2 4 0   0 0 1   x      7 – 10 - 1

Caylee Coulter, Hope Lawrence (2) and Tristine Vandeman

Courtney Schwan and Abby McDonald

      Courtney Schwan walked with one out in the first.  Madison Covell courtesy ran for Schwan.  Alyssa McKiernan crushed a 2-1 pitch way over the left fielder’s head all the way to the fence for an inside the park home run scoring Covell before her.

      Ashlynn Ota was safe on an infield error to open the second.  Abby McDonald pinch ran for Ota.  McDonald took second on a wild pitch.  After an out Becca Sorensen singled to right to score McDonald.  Courtney Schwan singled to right to move Sorensen to second.  Madison Covell courtesy ran for Schwan.  Alyssa McKiernan was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  After a second out Alex DeStephano singled to left center to score Sorensen and Covell and to move McKiernan to third.  DeStephano took second on the throw to the plate.  Rachel Sorensen singled to left to score McKiernan.

      Central Kitsap used a walk, a single, and a triple to get two runs in the sixth.

      Courtney Schwan walked on a full count to open the sixth.  Madison Covell again courtesy ran for Schwan.  Alyssa McKiernan grounded out short to first to move Covell to second.  After a second out Alex DeStephano walked.  Rachel Sorensen singled to right to score Covell.

      Courtney Schwan started and celebrated her birthday by going the distance for the win.  She struck out three and threw only 78 pitches.

      Good defensive plays were made by:  Celine Woo who charged and dove to catch a bunt and then threw to Becca Sorensen covering first to double up the leadoff runner in the 1st; by Rachel Sorensen who raced back into right field and stuck up her glove to make a back handed catch of a would-be triple for the first out in the 2nd; by Celine Woo who went in front of short to field a grounder and threw the batter out for the second out in the 2nd; by Rachel Sorensen who this time charged in and to her right to catch a sinking liner for the third out in the 2nd; by Courtney Schwan who went to the first base line to field a bunt and threw the batter out for the first out in the 3rd; by Alex DeStephano who went to the fence to catch a foul pop up to end the 4th; by Becca Sorensen who fielded a grounder to second, tagged the runner from first, and threw to Alex DeStephano for a double play in the 5th; by Alexa Ostrander who with runners on second and first fielded a grounder and tagged the lead runner for the second out in the 6th; by Rachel Sorensen who chased down a two-run triple to right center, threw a strike to her sister Becca Sorensen who relayed to Alex DeStephano to keep the batter at third instead of scoring in the 6th; by Alexa Ostrander who fielded a grounder and forced the lead runner at second for the first out in the 7th; and by Abby McDonald who caught a foul pop up for the second out and then caught a fair pop up to end the game.

      This win means that Bellarmine will play Olympia next and guarantees that the Lions will go on to District.