For Kevin Zylstra, he doesn’t believe in “get right” games.
He’s got a different mentality.
“I believe in bust your butt and play hard games,” W.F. West’s head softball coach said.
In attempting to end a three-game losing streak and dig out of a self-created hole in the Evergreen Conference standings, the Bearcats took their coach's message and turned in a much-needed victory.
Addie Froscahuer, Avalon Myers and Karlee Coleman did most of the damage out of the 2-3-4 spots in the lineup to lift W.F. West to an 8-1 triumph over Black Hills on Tuesday night at Recreation Park.
“The girls were just determined and they came through,” Zylstra said.
Now at 8-7 overall and 5-5 in the league, the Bearcats have a one-game cushion on the Wolves for third and are two games up on Centralia. The chaos ensues in the tiebreakers between the three teams.
Centralia is 2-0 against W.F. West; Black Hills is 2-0 versus Centralia; W.F. West is 2-0 battling Black Hills.
Now with the third meetings against league foes approaching, the margin for error is diminishing.
“I really wanted us to upset someone above us,” Wolves head coach Mike Vessey said. “We’re paying attention to the league and where we fall. We like our chances going forward.”
Myers got the scoring started with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, then three runs in the second – two of them on a single by Bailey Armitage – brought the cushion to 5-0.
Gracie Elam recorded an RBI double in a two-run sixth. The Bearcats finished with six extra-base hits and only struck out three times against Wolves’ pitchers Ella Goheen and Maddie Knight.
“We talked about facing them last time, (when) Goheen was attacking the strike zone,” Zylstra said. “We knew if she tried to do that again, we had to make her pay. Girls were aware of that.”
Coleman went 4-for-4 with two doubles, Froschauer recorded three hits and W.F. West’s Nos. 8 and 9 hitters Tanner Tobin and Rayah Middleton each finished with two hits. Starter Taylor Tobin tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts.
The right-hander dotted the outside corner and kept Black Hills (7-7, 4-6) off balance. The Wolves didn’t do themselves any favors in the first five innings, where the following happened.
First inning: leadoff walk left stranded at second
Third, fourth and fifth frames: A double only to be left on base
Seventh and final inning: Two on in scoring position and no runs across.
The sixth was the lone inning Black Hills took advantage of an error that came before a Hannah O’Shurak RBI single to avoid the shutout.
“We had some good hits off (Tobin), we just couldn’t string it together,” Vessey said. “I know we’re capable of it. What we work on in practice and what we do well in practice, and not pull it off in a game, we’re still young for that.”
The two sides will play again on Friday in Black Hills. Before that third meeting, W.F. West travels to Shelton and Black Hills battles Aberdeen, both on Wednesday.
“We’re really anxious to finish our season strong,” Zylstra said. “We feel we’re on the home stretch and we need to finish strong.”
