T-Birds' streak finally broken

April 5, 2007

CENTRALIA - Tumwater's 32-game winning streak came to an end Friday after the Centralia Tigers pushed across a tie-breaking run in the seventh inning for a 3-2 win over the Thunderbirds in Centralia.

The Tigers got on the board first with two runs in the second, but defending state champion Tumwater answered with a two-spot of its own in the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, Tabitha Lawson knocked a single to left for Centralia and was then lifted in favor of pinch-runner Lindsey Heck.

Heck took second on a passed ball, then was bunted over to third.

With the winning run at third and no outs, the Thunderbirds opted to intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases. But Centralia turned that strategy on its ear when Heck beat the throw home on Jordan Scherer's infield single.

"We were a little bit bummed after the game," T-Birds coach Clay Hill said. "It was bound to happen, but we weren't upset because we played our hardest. We made them earn it and they did."

Ramona Lorton earned the win for Centralia, striking out nine and walking three. Centralia’s Lauren Liseth was 4-for-4 with an RBI in the win.

Tumwater's Ashley Andrews went 3-for-3 with a run scored and four stolen bases in the loss.