SEATTLE – Bainbridge bested Ballard 11-3 in girls varsity fastpitch softball last Monday.

The Spartans were aggressive from the start, running up a 5-0 lead in the first three innings, then put the game out of reach with a five-run explosion in the sixth inning after Ballard cut the lead to four runs in the fifth.

In the circle, Bainbridge’s Malia Peato was outstanding for the third time in a week to run her record to 4-0.

Bainbridge jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first when Kensey Baker singled, stole second, then came around to score on a Maddie Loverich single.

In the third, the Spartans extended the lead to 5-0. Megan Spray lead off with a double; Tiana Rabang beat out a bunt single to move Spray to third. When Rabang stole second, the Ballard catcher tried to pick Spray off third, but threw the ball into left field for an error, allowing Spray to score. Back-to-back triples by Peato and Sara Colley brought home Rabang and Peato, respectively. Colley then scored on an infield single by Olivia Wikstrom.

Bainbridge added a run in the fourth before Ballard finally got on the scoreboard with two in the fifth.

In her only rough inning, Peato allowed a triple, single, sacrifice bunt and another single to bring in two runs and with a runner on second with one out.

Peato escaped a bigger inning when her defense to turned a neat double play. On a grounder to Colley at short, Colley made the play to get the out at first to Alyssa Costello, who smartly threw to Spray at third to get final out of the inning and derail the Beavers’ comeback attempt.

Bainbridge put the game out of reach in the sixth with five runs, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of Peato.

The Spartan defense stymied Ballard in the sixth with another sparkling double play initiated by Kensey Baker at second base with a quick flip to Colley at the bag for the relay to Costello at first to complete the double play.

Ballard closed out the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh.

The win put Bainbridge solidly in second place in the Metro League standings (9-1), trailing only Holy Names. BHS is 10-2 overall.

Two games against Holy Names next week will likely determine the regular season championship.

Baker finished at 3-for-5, with an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases.

Peato went 2-for-4, with a double, triple, four RBIs and two runs.

Maddie Loverich: 1-for-2, two BB, two RBIs and two runs

Colley was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run.

Abby Sullivan finished 2-for-3, with a double and two runs.