Panthers ; Pirates Oh, No Rogers Ends Year Second To One, 1-0

Rogers High School had the South Kitsap Wolves where it wanted them in the bottom of the seventh inning - with a runner on third and one of the Pirates’ top hitters at the plate.

But Traci Moore’s fly-out ended Rogers’ season with a 1-0 loss in the State AAA fastpitch softball championship game at Franklin Park.

The loss couldn’t mar an incredible finish for a team that finished just third in the Greater Spokane League.

The Pirates ended their season with a 24-6 record and as the secondbest team in the state.

“I really am proud of what all they’ve accomplished,” said Rogers coach Paul Cooley. “I respect the fact that our kids had a lot of poise and they played real hard and showed a lot of hustle all the way through.”

The game was scoreless until Keri McCallum of the Wolves scored on a ground-rule double by Frenchy Nix in the fourth inning.

The Pirates had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning. Gena Greenside led off with a single, but two sacrifice bunts and a pinch runner later, Moore flied out to end the game.

“We hit some balls really well today that just went right at people,” said Cooley, whose team had five hits - two by Teana Scott. “Traci was doing a good job at pitching; (South Kitsap) is an excellent hitting team. What happened was that they hit a couple balls that were just simply inbetween balls and they’re the ones that drop in.”

The Wolves picked up seven hits against Moore, who struck out one and walked none.

“We just knew a little bit about (Rogers),” South Kitsap coach Kathy Ballew said. “We knew that their pitcher was good, threw hard and had a good change. We also knew that she was probably their best hitter. I was really nervous when she was up there in that last inning.”

The Wolves had a meeting at the pitcher’s mound to discuss strategy for that situation.

“We just told ourselves to focus and just keep it tough,” said McCallum, who went 4 for 4 with two RBIs in the Wolves’ 5-1 win over Evergreen in the semifinals. “Our pitcher was kind of hurting, so we just told ourselves that we had to be there for her.”

Moore pitched complete games in all four tournament contests for Rogers, including a 2-1 win Saturday morning over Central Kitsap that sent the Pirates into the championship game. Moore had five strikeouts and no walks while giving up six hits.

For the tourney, she allowed just four runs and four walks.

Rogers took a 1-0 lead Saturday morning when Mandy Flores came all the way around after she bunted and the Central Kitsap third baseman threw the ball into right field.

After Central Kitsap tied the score, Jenifor Wells pounded a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Central Kitsap went on to take third place, defeating Bremerton 9-8 and Columbia River 2-1. Columbia River finished fourth.

Cooley was reflective after Saturday’s loss.

“I think they represented Spokane, the Greater Spokane League and the region real well,” he said.

He credited the fans for supporting Rogers throughout the tournament and cited the benefit his team received from playing in its hometown.

“I would sure like to see this tournament come back here every fourth year, because there’s nothing like playing at home,” he said.