LACEY — The first few warmup pitches out of North Kitsap senior Cerenity Fake's hand flew high and wide, the result of rainy conditions and Fake being pressed into relief duty during the third inning of Saturday's Class 2A West Central/Sea-King Bi-District championship game against Olympic at the RAC in Lacey.
It was Fake's final series of pitches against the Trojans that mattered most for the defending state champions. After Olympic put runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Fake struck out three consecutive batters to lift North Kitsap to a 5-4 victory over its Olympic League rival.
"I just had to remind myself to breathe, take my time," Fake said.
North Kitsap (19-5) and Olympic (18-6) are among the five West Sound softball teams that secured state berths during district tournament play, joining Kingston (2A), Klahowya (1A) and Central Kitsap (3A). Committees are scheduled to meet Sunday to determine seeding. The 2A and 1A state championships are in Selah, while the 3A championships are in Lacey. Games begin Friday.
Facing off for the third time this season, North Kitsap scored three runs in the first inning against Olympic, but the Trojans responded with four runs in the third inning while chasing Vikings starting pitcher Reese Anderson, who walked in a pair of runs. Anderson struggled gripping the ball during the on-and-off rain showers that popped up throughout the contest, so North Kitsap head coach Clay Blackwood didn't hesitate to put Fake on the mound in a tight spot.
"She's just stepped up big this year," Blackwood said. "Just been on fire on the mound."
Olympic didn't score after the fourth inning, allowing North Kitsap to tie the game in the fifth inning and take a 5-4 lead in the seventh on a two-out RBI double by junior Kasey Wallace. Olympic senior Hannah Linn led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and sophomore Kennedy Haas walked and stole second, putting the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Fake responded by striking out Sophia Brown, Danika Potter and Shaeinna Cherrey to end the game.
North Kitsap's three wins over Olympic this spring: 6-3, 4-3 and 5-4.
"It helps us when we have those tight games to know how to compete," said Blackwood, whose team knocked off Olympic League champion Port Angeles 5-3 in Friday's district semifinal game. "The last two games, we've had some grit."
Another West Sound softball team in action Saturday at the RAC was Central Kitsap, which scored two upset wins Thursday to secure a 3A state tournament berth. The Cougars (8-16) lost to Prairie 13-2 and Gig Harbor 8-5 to place fourth in the West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament at the RAC. Central Kitsap held a 5-4 lead over Gig Harbor with two outs in the seventh before the Tides tied the game on a single and won on a three-run home run.
In the 4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament at the Kent Service Ballfields, South Kitsap saw its season end with a 2-1 loss against Battle Ground. The Wolves (13-10) finished 1-2 in district play.
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