NC season ends after going 1-2 at state

LACEY, Wash. – The North Central softball team’s season ended where the Indians hoped it would, if perhaps not when.

The Indians (13-13) won six of their last eight games entering this weekend’s State 3A championships at the Regional Athletic Complex. They kept that mojo flowing during their first game on Friday, a 5-1 win over the West Seattle Wildcats, before losing twice and being eliminated.

The Wildcats finished second in Seattle’s Metro League and were led by an impressive freshman, Lucy Mead, one of the most dangerous base-runners and sluggers in the tournament.

“We knew a little bit about her coming in – you read the articles and look at the stats,” said North Central coach Rob Kuehn. “She’s a tough out.”

Though Mead went 2 for 3 with a home run and a stolen base, North Central pitcher Brooke Olson held the Wildcats the rest of the way.

Olson struck out seven batters in six innings and the diminutive sophomore’s teammates provided plenty of support. Freshman Paula Pinter plated senior Jessica Huffman with a single in the third inning to tie the score at 1 after Mead’s solo homer to center.

Olson took home on a throwing error in the fourth to give her team the lead. Alyssa Patterson homered over the left-field wall, scoring Kaylee Levien from first and breaking the game open. The Indians brought Olson home again in the sixth with Patterson picking up her third RBI, a single, after Olson doubled.

The win proved to be the high point of the day for the Indians. The North Central players looked gassed against an impressive Juanita team that has advanced to state for seven consecutive years.

The Rebels outscored the Indians 10-0 thanks to 15 hits in five innings, and the game ended early because of the mercy rule.

While the Indians defense recovered in the season’s final game, the offense never got rolling in a 2-1 loss to Central Kitsap.

During some early-season struggles, the Indians believed that if they played well in May they could look like a state-worthy team by the end of the season. With just four seniors graduating and eight returning next season with playoff experience, next year’s team could be a contender all season.

“I think getting here will definitely help us because it’s different competition and there’s really good competition here,” Levien said. “So that will really help us next year back in Spokane.”