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closePanthers softballers come home with some hardware
Bonney Lake fastpitch program takes another step forward in journey to stardom on the softball field
Shaun Scott
Bonney Lake Panthers pitcher Caitlin Colvin clutched the fourth place trophy in her arms triumphantly as she walked off the field.
Colvin was all smiles even though her team was just beaten 2-0 by Everett in the third/fourth place game at the Class 4A state tournament at SERA fields on May 24 in Tacoma.
“We lost the third place game but we still achieved some of our big goals we wanted to achieve,” Colvin said. “Everyone said this year would be a rebuilding year for us and we did even better than we did last year.”
Last year, the Panthers didn’t place at the state tournament.
Panthers coach Dave Loveless was beaming following this year’s tournament.
“We made it farther than last year. That was one of our goals,” Loveless said. “We expect to keep on improving and do even better next year. We competed well and beat some pretty good teams at this tournament these past few days. It’s definitely an accomplishment.”
Panthers pummel Kamiakin in second showdown
The Panthers had an opportunity to advance further in the state tournament than they ever have before when they faced off against the Kamiakin Braves in a loser-out contest on May 24.
The Panthers delivered, cruising to a 4-0 victory to guarantee at least a fourth place finish in the Class 4A state tournament on May 24.
Bonney Lake jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of runs scored by Eva Beal, Zahra Peterson and Kaley Sherwood. Chole Beal singled in the fifth, scoring Colvin from second base adding the final run on the scoreboard for the Panthers in the contest.
Colvin pitched a complete game allowing just three hits in seven innings of work.
“It’s an honor to pitch for this team,” Colvin said. “My teammates back behind me made it happen. It’s not what I do. It’s what they do. They play great defense and it kind of keeps the stress off knowing you can count on them.”
Loveless was ecstatic following the Panthers’ third victory of the tournament.
“This is huge for our program,” Loveless said. “We’ve gone farther than any Bonney Lake team has gone before.”
Bonney Lake’s skipper was impressed with Colvin’s performance in a pressure packed situation.
“We know every time she takes the circle that we have a good shot at winning,” Loveless said. “All we need is one or two runs and we’re right in the game. She knows it and her teammates know it. It’s great having her out there.”
Timberline downs Panthers in semi-finals contest
One bad inning doomed the Bonney Lake Panthers in their semi-final game against the Timberline Blazers.
Timberline blazed out of the gates in the top of the third inning. They scored five runs putting Bonney Lake in a hole they wouldn’t dig themselves out of in a 6-3 victory on May 24.
“We just had one really bad inning,” Loveless said. “They put up five runs and that ended up being the difference in the ball game. We hit the ball well. We hit it hard but right at people. Whenever we had a chance we didn’t capitalize.”
Panthers squeak by Knights with late inning surge
Timely hitting was the Bonney Lake Panthers’ motto in their 2-1 victory against the Newport Knights in their second game of the state tournament on May 23.
With the Panthers trailing 1-0, Beal and Brittany Myers scored runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
Colvin shut the door on Newport in the top of the seventh after allowing one run.
Colvin compiled eight strikeouts for Bonney Lake.
“She allowed one run but she struck out there last hitter,” Loveless said. “It was a great way to end the game.”
Colvin wins pitcher’s dual in state tourney opener
The Bonney Lake Panthers fastpitch team started the Class 4A state tournament off on the right foot.
Leading the way for the Panthers was junior hurler Colvin, who allowed just six hits and no runs in a 1-0 shutout victory against Kamiakin on May 23.
The Panthers scored its lone run of the game when Sherwood hit a ground ball to third base with Eva Beal standing on third base. Beal gambled, taking off toward homeplate when Sherwood made contact. The throw to the plate was ahead of Beal but Beal’s hard slide into Kamiakin catcher Renaa Kimbell jarred the ball loose resulting in Beal being called safe.
It’s the only run the Panthers would need.
“We like to play small ball and that’s how we scored,” Loveless said. “We want to put pressure on the opposing teams’ infield whenever we have the opportunity.”