MOUNT VERNON Absent long-time starters Kally Behen and Becca Bean, the young team Lakewood softball fielded against Sedro-Woolley put up a fight in a narrow 8-7 loss.
Off-field complications handicapped Lakewood early on. The late arrival of a couple of players forced the Cougars to take two outs in the first inning to preserve their batting order and prevented Lakewood from capitalizing on a bases-loaded situation.
Not so for Sedro-Woolley, whose Wendy Ringhouse hit an RBI double to close the first inning 1-0.
In the top of the third, Lakewoods Amanda Nunley evened the score with a run of her own. In the same inning, the Cougars had a couple close calls at home that upset the Lakewood cheering section.
Errors moved shortstop Kahlee Barrio around the bases shortly after Nunleys run and, with a look at home, Barrio slid in. Sedro-Woolley pitcher-catcher combo Anna Gallagher and Kelsey Gibbs connected, and Barrio was called out.
Then, with pitcher Amanda Bean and catcher Rachel Bachlund on base, slugger Emily Burkholder came up with a solid hit to center field. Bean rounded third and started into home as Ringhouse connected with Gibbs. And Bean was called out.
Lakewood coach Jim Barrio said that from his vantage point, neither Kahlee Barrio nor Bean had appeared to be tagged.
Amanda did the right thing. The outfielder from Sedro-Woolley made a nice throw to the plate. Amanda made a nice slide to the plate, coach Barrio added.
But, he said, despite a five-run surge in the fourth inning, Sedro-Woolley made some late game mistakes that allowed Lakewood to catch up in the top of the fifth and tie the game again, 6-6.
It started at the plate, as Sedro-Woolleys pitching began to suffer in the top of the fifth. Gallagher walked Nunley, first baseman Hayley Bustad, Bean and Bachlund, giving up runs to Nunley and Kahlee Barrio on the last two walks.
Gallaghers woes continued against Burkholder in the next at bat, hitting the batter and granting Lakewood another base and another run. At last, she found some pitching success, striking out Cougar Stephanie Kushner. Inexplicably, Sedro-Woolley abandoned the field with only one out.
Needing little encouragement from her coaches, Bean took off from third for home, getting Lakewoods fourth fifth-inning score. Bachlund got in position to take advantage as Sedro-Woolley retook the field, and scored on third baseman Anna Works at bat.
Unfortunately, the Cougars were unable to get a game-winning seventh run in the inning, forcing an extra sixth inning. It was there Sedro-Woolley once again outscored Lakewood.
Jim Barrio, who has helped softball head coach Steve Barker coach the summer tournament schedule, said it has already been rewarding for him to work with the girls as he has coached many of them in Little League and select softball.
Its actually an exciting experience after coaching Little League and select softball in my eighth or ninth year, he said. Its exciting that coach Barker looks to Larry (Bean) and myself to give our input.
He added that despite the youth Lakewood put on field, the girls showed a lot of promise.
Amanda Bean is going to be the future pitcher for Lakewood, and she stepped in and threw two great games for Lakewood yesterday, Barrio said. Rachel Bachlund, an incoming freshman next year, caught two very nice games.
He echoed Barkers goal for the summer tournament schedule as opportunity for the girls to polish their skills.
I think this tournament series is good for the girls. The Lakewood team last year was very good and having this time in the summer makes them stronger for next year, he said.

At Skagit Valley College

Lakewood 0 0 1 0 5 1 7
Sedro-Woolley 1 0 0 5 0 2 8