By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
The West Plains Bandits 12U fastpitch softball team competed in the Spokane Girls Fastpitch Softball Association Invitational Tournament June 2-3, finishing with a 2-2 record.
The Bandits scored five runs in the second inning and five in the third to open a 12-0 lead over the Teen Trolls en route to their 13-1 win in the opener. West Plains' first four batters all came around to score in the second inning as did the first three in the third, with Laura Memea's solo home run in the fourth wrapping up the scoring.
West Plains out hit the Trolls 9-2, with Memea going 2 for 3, double and home run, and Gloria Cheevers 2 for 2, both singles. Taylor John, Rachel Barsness, Alyssa Fisk, Alex Steinmetz and Makayla Tamietti each had a hit, with Cheevers, Barsness, Steinmetz and Tamietti each scoring two runs.
Taylor Pavao got the win on the mound, giving up one run in the third, a pair of hits while striking out seven and walking two in five innings.
In the second game the Bandits gave up five runs in the second and three more in the fourth in losing 9-2 to the Spokane Crash. West Plains had just three hits, two by Cheevers who also scored both runs. Memea got the loss, giving up nine runs on six hits and nine walks in 3 1/3 innings, with Pavao pitching 2/3 of an inning.
West Plains led 3-0 through five in the nightcap Saturday against the Diamonds, but had to rally in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the 6-5 win. The Diamonds scored five runs in the top of the sixth, all coming with two outs, to take a 5-3 lead.
In their last at bat the Bandits responded with three straight hits by Cheevers, Hailey Hostetter and Barsness and an intentional walk to Memea to pull within one with no outs. Pavao then hit a fielder's choice to short that scored Hostetter and Barsness for the win.
Cheevers was 3 for 3 with a run, with Barsness 2 for 2 and a run, Memea 2 for 3 and a run, Hannah Petek 2 for 2 and Hostetter 1 for 2.
Pavao got the win, giving up five runs on eight hits, eight walks and striking out three in six innings.
On Sunday the Bandits finished up their tournament with a 9-2 loss to Lakesiders. West Plains was out hit 7-1, a double by Taylor John in the fifth that scored Alyssa Fisk. Fisk scored the Bandits' other run in the second, reaching base after the Lakesiders' catcher dropped the ball on a third strike, and eventually coming home on John's grounder to third.
Petek pitched one inning, giving up three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one, with Pavao coming on for three innings, giving up six runs on four hits and five walks and Cheevers finishing up with one inning of work, giving up no runs, one hit and a walk.
The Bandits are 7-5 over two tournaments so far this spring and summer.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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