LACEY — The Meadowdale softball team doesn’t take losing lightly.
Playing in its first game since falling to Everett 15-1 in the district championship last week, the Mavericks toppled Auburn Mountainview 12-0 in six innings in their 3A state opener Friday morning.
When Meadowdale again suffered a loss — this time a crushing 6-5 walkoff defeat to Prairie in the state quarterfinals — the Mavericks again bounced back with a 12-4 victory over Bainbridge in a loser-out game Friday night at the Regional Athletic Complex.
The win ensures Meadowdale’s season will continue with a 9 a.m. loser-out game Saturday against Central Kitsap.
“That’s it: come back and play our game,” Meadowdale head coach Dennis Hopkins said. “It’s a bit different down here than the Everett game. You’re at the highest of highs, then the lowest of lows and then you have to come back up again. It makes a long day for you.”
A three-run walkoff home run by Jamie Phares sent Meadowdale to the consolation bracket after its second game of the day. The Mavericks — who hit four home runs in their first game of the day against Auburn Mountainview, including two by junior Julia Reuble — belted three more against Bainbridge (17-10 overall), with McKenzie Beavin, Emma Helm and Haili Taylor tallying home runs.
This season the Mavericks have hit 51 homers as a team. Meadowdale (22-4) is hoping to follow the path of the 2013 Mavericks, who captured a third-place trophy after suffering a loss in Lacey.
“We can still get hardware,” Hopkins said. “That’s what we told them after the loss. ‘You’re still in this. You’ve only got one loss now. You can still come back around and win hardware. You can’t win first or second, but you can still get another third-place trophy to put in the case.’”
Reuble picked up the win in the circle for the Bainbridge game but it was the Mavericks’ first pitcher of the day who provided the biggest surprise.
Even to the pitcher herself.
Sophomore Lauren Dent made her first career varsity start — and threw six shutout innings — against Auburn Mountainview. Hopkins informed Dent she would start shortly after arriving at the field.
“We didn’t tell her until game time,” Hopkins said. “She was wide-eyed and like, ‘Um…OK. All right coach. I’m going to go do what I’ve got to do.”
Hopkins is hoping that attitude continues for the Mavericks tomorrow, who would need three more wins to get the third-place trophy.
“Who knows what’s going to happen,” Hopkins said. “It could be anybody’s game right now.”
Meadowdale3022401—12119
Bainbridge0000220—451
Samantha Gregoryk and Emma Helm. Maddie Williams and Bailee Blechschmidt. WP—Williams. LP–Gregoryk. 2B—McKenzie Beavin (M), Jordan Shaw (P). 3B—Taylor Ramey (P). HR—Jamie Phares (P). Records–Meadowdale 21-4 overall. Prairie 16-8.
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