The girl’s fastpitch team from Rochester High School defeated Tenino High School 16-10 Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in a non-league game hosted in Tenino. The game saw the home Beavers take an early lead with runs in the first three innings for a 10-1 lead. Tenino seemed comfortable and on to a victory heading into the top of the fourth but something changed as the pitching seemed to drop for Tenino and Rochester started to adjust offensively.
Rochester (8-9) tightened their pitching, which helped them never give up another run after the bottom of the third. Layna Demers pitched the final innings dominating with nine strikeouts in 3.2 innings. The Warriors scored two runs in the fourth and then four runs in the sixth trailing 7-10 heading into the top of the seventh. The seventh saw Rochester score nine allowing them to have a comfortable lead. Center fielder Sara Haury was 3 for 5 with four runs and 3 RBI and a walk to lead the Warriors offensively. Tenino was led by Sophia Hussey who went 3 for 5.
Rochester head coach Joni Lancaster was pleased with her team’s battle. “It was no secret we were flat at the plate starting off, but we made some adjustments and ended up having 18 hits so I’m proud of how they corrected themselves,” Lancaster responded after the win. “Once one person hits it’s contagious and that was good for us as we head toward Districts.”
Tenino (3-15) head coach Chris Johnson lamented that the game was similar to others during the season. “We have had a tendency to jump out early and then give up stuff late in the games and we just can’t finish it which is kind of our MO this year but we’re getting better,” Johnson stated. “We’re definitely better at the plate early in the game. We just didn’t make the adjustments late in the game like we needed to, but it is what it is and we’re just gonna keep building for the last two games of our season and then build on those games for next year.”
Rochester plays four more games before 2A EVCO (Evergreen Conference) district play. The Warriors host Tumwater on Wednesday, May 1 and travel to WF West in Chehalis on Friday, May 3. Tenino has two away games to finish the season at Napavine on May 8, and then in Lacey against Timberline on May 11.
