In an early season rematch of the district championship last spring, the W.F. West softball team set the tone early in a 7-1 win over Rochester on the road Tuesday afternoon.
After Brielle Etter drew a walk, freshman three-hole hitter Avalon Myers stepped up to the plate looking to score the Bearcats’ first run of the season. It came in home run fashion, Myers’ first of her high school career, after the freshman took a ball and blasted a deep shot to left field to score two.
From there, W.F. West controlled the game with Kamy Dacus in the circle, the senior hurler pitched all seven innings, allowing one run and fanning 10 batters. Dacus also knocked in a run in the third.
The Bearcats picked up their first win of the season after dropping their opener to 4A Olympia, and got out ahead early in the victory, all started by Myers’ blast in the first.
For the Warriors, ace Lakota Escott earned 10 punchouts in seven innings, and allowed six earned runs, walking seven. Kassidy Byrd knocked in the Warriors only run in the fourth inning.
Though Rochester got plenty of base knocks, equaling the Bearcats with seven, they couldn’t take advantage.
“We’re young and it showed at times today,” Rochester first-year coach Joni Lancaster said. “But we battled a very solid Chehalis squad. We had a few errors and left too many on base.
“But I am pleased with where we’re at this early in the season and excited to see where we go from here.”
The Warriors will look to rebound against Black Hills on Wednesday while the Bearcats take on Tumwater on the road.
