TACOMA – The Monroe High School softball lost a heartbreaker on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament at SERA Fields.
When Stadium head coach Lynn Batchelder saw Monroe’s Shannon Fretz streaking around the bases with two out in the bottom of the seventh, one thought went through her mind.
“I shouldn’t have pitched to her,” recalled Batchhelder, moments after the Tigers threw Fretz out at the plate to secure a 3-2 victory and a spot in today’s semifinals.
With her team down to its final out, Fretz lined a 2-1 pitch down the left field line. As she approached third, the speedy leadoff hitter turned her head and decided to go for it just as a throw from Tigers left fielder Sam Miller approached third baseman Adriana Wortley.
The game ended when catcher Sarah Glennon tagged Fretz out inches in front of home plate.
Stadium – which beat Monroe in a nine-inning consolation game in last year’s tournament – plays Mountain View, which advanced to the semis by handing Kentlake its first loss of the season, 1-0.
Monroe played Graham-Kapowsin in a late loser-out consolation game immediately after the nail-biting loss. Results were not available when The Herald went to press.
Monroe coach Curt Eskeback did not second-guess Fretz’s decision to try to send the game into extra innings.
“They’ve got to make a throw and make a tag,” said Eskeback, whose team lost for just the second time this season (23-2 heading into the Graham-Kapowsin game). “If they don’t get that, it’s a tie ball game and we’ve got momentum back. (The Bearcats) played their hearts out.”
Fretz doubled in addition to what turned out to be the game-ending triple to record two of Monroe’s six hits.
Batchhelder said her team retained its confidence even after a 2-0 deficit to Monroe and standout pitcher Jordan Birch, who had shut out four straight postseason opponents. Birch allowed two earned runs while striking out nine Tigers.
“Monroe is a great team, and they’ve had a great season,” said Batchhelder, whose team recorded 11 hits. “We just figured we had nothing to lose.”
The Tigers, who placed fourth in last year’s tournament, broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth when Anna Dudley’s RBI double scored Miller.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Briar Stanley and Sarah Elledge singled to start the inning. Jenna Kirksey drove both of them in with a one-out double to deep center field for a 2-0 lead.
Stadium answered immediately in the top of the third. Dudley led off with a walk. A throwing error on Becca Cable’s bunt attempt put runners at second and third. Winning pitcher Jordyn Kurtz followed with a single to left-center that tied the score, 2-2.
On the mound, Kurtz struck out seven, and the Tigers played flawless defense behind her.
“We’re a big-hitting team, so we just did what we do best,” said Kurtz, who struck out eight in Stadium’s 1-0, opening-round victory over Richland.
Monroe loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, but Kurtz notched a strikeout and induced a popup to escape unscathed.
Earlier on Friday, Monroe beat Inglemoor in the first round behind Birch’s three-hit shutout. Birch struck out 12 and cruised after the Bearcats scored two first-inning runs. Kayla Wangner hit a two-run homer to help Monroe reach the quarterfinal.
At SERA Fields, Tacoma
Stadium0020010-3110
Monroe0200000-272
Kurtz and Glennon. Birch and Stanley. WP-Kurtz. LP-Birch (23-2). 2B-Cable (S) 2, Kirksey (M), Fretz (M). 3B-Fretz (M). Records-Monroe 23-2. Stadium 16-3.
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