Though it took the bats a bit to warm up on the hottest day of the year to date, the W.F. West softball team left Rec Park in Chehalis Friday afternoon with a 12-2 run-rule victory over Rochester in what will count as a non-league contest between 2A Evergreen Conference foes.
The Bearcats didn’t score a run in each of the first three innings, and trailed 2-0 after a quick start from the Warriors, but scored six runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to earn the non-league victory Friday at their home ballpark.
“(Layna) Demers was stuffing us for three innings,” W.F. West coach Kevin Zylstra said. “She’s a quality pitcher, we just had to be patient and wait for our chances and we got them. I love when we have big innings because everyone contributes. The girls did great. I was pleased, it took awhile but we came on.”
Rachel Gray had a standout day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a run scored, two RBIs, and a home run. Brielle Etter went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI, Savannah Hawkins had two hits, and Avalon Myers went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
In the circle, Staysha Fluetsch got the start and threw a complete five innings, giving up two earned runs in the first inning before slamming the door in the following four with three strikeouts and just six hits allowed.
“After that first inning she put up zeroes,” Zylstra said. “That was great to see. She had a rough outing against Tumwater on Monday so it was nice to see her bounce back and get the complete game. I was very happy with how she threw today.”
On the other side, Demers threw 4 1/3 innings before running into some trouble, holding W.F. West off the scoreboard until the fourth and fifth innings. She allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits and three walks with five strikeouts. At the plate, McKenna Vassar went 2 for 3 with a run scored, and Macey Fluetsch knocked in a run on a base hit.
The Bearcats take on Black Hills in a return to actual league play on Monday, while Rochester heads to Shelton.
