Fastpitch: Decatur’s season ends with loss to Kentwood

Published 10:00 am Friday, May 6, 2016

Decatur’s fastpitch team went into their game against Kentwood on Tuesday knowing that a win would land them in the postseason. It was unfamiliar territory for the team, which has struggled in recent years.

They will have to wait one more year, however, because Kentwood downed the Gators 15-7 to earn the final playoff berth.

It was senior night for the Gators, and while a playoff berth was on the line, honoring the four seniors on the team was just as, if not more, important.

Genevieve Summers, Tatiana Jones, Celmarie Cabrera and Ariana Steen were playing in what turned out to be their final games for Decatur.

“I love these girls,” said Decatur coach Sarah Beckler. “These girls are great. We’re losing a great pitcher, so that’s hard. She fought hard and had a great season. She’s got a bright future.”

The game started out rough for Decatur.

The Conquerors scored five runs in the top of the first on two errors, two hits, a walk, a hit batter and a fielder’s choice.

A mistake by Decatur in the second inning again led to runs for Kentwood.

Samantha Domingo started the inning with a single and promptly stole second base. Kailee Roldan moved Domingo to third on a ground out.

The problems for Decatur really began after Lagi Palaita was walked. Right after she reached first base she took off for second. Meanwhile, Domingo took off for home and scored.

An errant throw on the play allowed Palaita to reach third base with ease.

A sacrifice fly by DeShane Fugate gave the Conquerors a 7-0 lead after two innings.

Decatur decided to make a pitching change from Summers to Sophie Musiak as the third inning began. It paid off as Musiak struck out the first batter and got the second to pop out.

Domingo hit another single, but the Gators didn’t allow the inning to last much longer. Summers, now at first base, had a spectacular catch as she snagged a hard line drive out of the air to end the inning.

The good defensive inning sparked a Decatur rally over the next couple of innings.

Yuka Matsufuji singled to start the bottom of the third. An error during Cabrera’s at-bat allowed her to safely reach first and move Matsufuji to second.

Madison Combs grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners at first and second. The next batter struck out, and things began to once again look bleak for the Gators.

Instead of folding, however, Sophie Victor stepped to the plate and singled up the middle of the infield, scoring both Cabrera and Combs. Decatur trailed 7-2 after three innings.

Kentwood once again scored on an error in the top of the fourth inning.

With a runner on third, Taylor Lott hit a grounder back to Musiak. Musiak decided to try and keep the runner from going home, but her throw to third was dropped and Kentwood extended its lead to 8-2.

The bottom of the fifth was all Decatur.

Summers reached base on an error to start the inning. Two batters later, Summers moved to third on a single by Taylor McGillis.

Matsufuji hit a sacrifice fly to score Summers but gave the Gators their second out.

Cabrera, Combs and Jessica Karmell all recorded two-out hits. Combs’ double gave her both of her RBIs on the night.

The Gators scored their fifth run of the inning on a passed ball when Karmell beat a throw back to the plate by inches.

Kentwood’s lead was cut to just one by the time the bottom of the fourth finished.

The wheels came off for Decatur in the top of the sixth, though. Fugate hit a home run on the first pitch to push the lead to 9-7 for the Conquerors.

Five more hits — including a triple by Palaita — and an error led to seven runs for Kentwood. After going up 15-7, they never looked back.

Decatur managed a couple of hits over the final two innings but were unable to bring anyone across the plate.

With the win, Kentwood moves on to the South Puget Sound League tournament, which will be held next week.

The season ended for Decatur, but spirits were still high as the seniors were honored after the game. They received gift bags and flowers and took photos with their loved ones. Summers had an extra gift, getting asked to prom after the game.

“I’m super-excited for next year,” Beckler said. “We’ve got a young team. It’s a bummer to have these seniors graduate, but we have enough talent to make it all the way. We’ve come a long way, so I’m really excited for the future.

Decatur finishes the year with a 5-15 record overall and a 4-14 record in conference play.