Walk-off homer ends Royal's run

MOSES LAKE — The Royal Lady Knights have battled their way through many close games this season, but none closer than Friday's state softball tournament consolation round matchup with the Kettle Falls Bulldogs. When seven innings of softball produced just one run for each club, extra innings were needed to decide who would move on to play Saturday and who would see their season come to an abrupt end.

Royal took 1-run leads in the top of both the ninth and 10th innings, but a walk-off 3-run home run by Kettle Falls' Taylor Bircher gave the Bulldogs a stunning 5-3 victory and eliminated Royal from the tournament.

It was just one of many dramatic moments in what could have been the most entertaining game of the tournament.

"It was just back and forth," said Royal coach Bill Barker. "It could have went either way."

Royal took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on the legs of Alyssa Christensen. The Royal junior led the fourth off by reaching safely on an infield grounder. She then stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Following Christensen in the batting order, Kiya Staakeland then hit a ground ball to the Kettle Falls second baseman. Christensen broke for home on the play, and just made it in safely under the tag of the Bulldogs' catcher to put the first run of the game on the board.

Kettle Falls came back in the bottom of the fourth to put runners on first and third with one out, but an unassisted double play by Lady Knights' third baseman Leslie Brown got Royal out of the inning. Brown made a nice stretch to snare a line drive for the second out of the inning, then stepped on third base to double off the runner who had moved toward home on the pitch.

"I thought Leslie Brown did exceptionally well," remarked Barker of the freshman's defensive performance, who made several tough plays on the day.

The Bulldogs managed to tie the game in the sixth inning, as a Lady Knights' error with two outs allowed the Kettle Falls runner to score from third base.

Kettle Falls was in position to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, as another Royal error let the Bulldogs get a runner on third base with no outs.

The Lady Knights made up for the miscue with a double play, recording an out at first on a Kettle Falls bunt attempt, then picking the runner off third base as she didn't get back to the bag in time to beat the tag from Brown.

After both teams failed to score in the eighth inning, the international tie-breaker was used to speed up the action and get some runs on the board. In the tie-break situation, teams begin each inning with a runner at second base.

Royal took advantage first in the top of the ninth, as Tawnee Gonzales led off with an infield single that was just inches from rolling into foul territory. With runners at first and third, Stephanie Bartlett drove a sharp single to center field that easily scored Staakeland from third to make the score 2-1. Gonzales tried to score from first on the play, and it appeared she would do so with ease, but a phenomenal throw from the Kettle Falls center fielder got the ball to the plate just in time for the Bulldogs' catcher to apply the tag to Gonzales and save a run.

Kettle Falls tied the game at two in the bottom of the ninth, and was poised to win the game with the bases loaded and just one out in the inning. Royal got out of the jam with a force out at the plate and a groundout to short that sent the contest into the 10th inning.

In the 10th, Melissa Dixon put Royal ahead with a single down the right field line, but Kettle Falls would end the game in the bottom half of the inning with the home run.

"It's a good learning experience to play in a pressure cooker game," said Barker. "These young kids will learn from this type of game."

Earlier in the day, Royal dropped their tournament opener 6-1 to the eventual state runner-up Montesano Bulldogs. In the game, Montesano took an early 3-0 lead, but Royal came back in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 3-1. In the fourth, Royal loaded the bases, but was only able to bring in the one run.

Montesano pitcher Kaylee Frafjord held the Lady Knights to just one hit while striking out nine batters.

"The start of the season, people wouldn't have given us a plug nickel to make it to state," said Barker. "We'll be back."