Spartans punch ticket to state

SEATTLE – A dominant pitching performance from Malia Peato against West Seattle sent the Bainbridge Spartans to the state fastpitch tournament for the 12th year in a row.

Peato shutout West Seattle 4-0 earlier this week in a winner-to-state game in the 2018 SeaKing District 3A Softball Tournament.

Peato struck out eight without walking a batter and retired the first 11 batters she faced before surrendering a hit. Only five runners reached base for West Seattle on three singles and two Spartan errors.

Bainbridge jumped a 2-0 lead in the first. Kensey Baker singled, and Morgan Lassoff followed with a sacrifice bunt on which Baker advanced all the way to third, then scored on a West Seattle throwing error.

Maddie Loverich doubled and a two-out single from Sara Colley scored Loverich.

West Seattle mounted its only real threat in the fourth when a pair of two out singles and a stolen base put runners on second and third.

A long fly ball into the left-center field gap was hauled in by Ruby Raymundo with a beautiful running grab to end the threat.

Bainbridge added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth on singles by Georgia Wood and Lassoff. Peato tripled to bring them both around to score.

The win clinched the Spartans’ 12th consecutive trip to state (and 13th overall), a streak that began in 2007 when Coach Haylee Baker starred as freshman. It is believed to be the longest current streak of state tournament appearances for a 3A or 4A school.

Tuesday’s win over Westside improved the Spartans’ record this year to 16-5.

Bainbridge was scheduled to play in the district semifinals on Thursday against the Redmond Mustangs, the defending 3A state champions, for a spot in the district championship game on Friday.