By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Ketchikan High senior Kayloni Bermudez pitched around the Thunder Mountain bats in the third seed Lady Kings’ 5-2 opening game win over the second seed Falcons at the Region V Softball Tournament on Moller Field Thursday.
Bermudez went the seven inning distance, throwing 86 pitches, 60 for strikes, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs (1 earned), and struck out 4 TMHS batters while walking 1.
Ketchikan senior pitcher Kayloni Bermudez delivers against Thunder Mountain in the opening game of the 2019 Region V Softball Tourney at Sitka’s Moller Field.
The Ketchikan hurler also helped her cause with an RBI double in the top of the second inning. Lady Kings sophomore Dyllan Borer led off with a single to left field and freshman Shaelyn Mendoza eyed four straight pitches to earn a walk. Bermudez then timed a first pitch for a rope shot to center field that scored Borer and Mendoza.
Ketchikan added their final 3 runs in the top of the sixth.
Lady Kings’ junior Jhaelah Schultz eyed four pitches for a lead off walk and was replaced by sophomore courtesy runner Savannah McLaren, who stole second.
Borer doubled to score McLaren, and was replaced by sophomore courtesy runner Maddalynn Vierra.
Bermudez again helped secure her win with another line drive, this time to left field scoring Vierra and Mendoza for the 5-0 advantage.
On defense, when Bermudez lost a hitter the Lady Kings fielders had her back, keeping the Falcons scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning.
TMHS senior Penina Fenumiai reached on an error and advanced to second, then advanced to third on a passed ball. Senior Kyra Jenkins Hayes earned a walk and freshman Sydney Strong hit a long fly ball out that Fenumiai tagged up and scored on but Jenkins Hayes was thrown out on, and freshman Aspen Kasper hit a hard ground ball out to end the threat.
Thunder Mountain senior pitcher Penina Fenumiai delivers against Ketchikan during the Region V Softball Tournament at Moller Field.
The Falcons added a final run in their last at bat. Freshman Rileyanna Payne hit a lead off double, junior Letasi Fenumiai reached on an error that put Payne at third, and Mariah Tanuvasa Tuvaifale hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Payne.
TMHS pitcher P. Fenumiai took the loss, despite striking out 5 batters over 5 innings (83 P, 54 S, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB). Jenkins Hayes relieved (2 IP, 17 P, 12 S, 2 SO).
Ketchikan’s Bermudez led the Lady Kings at the plate, going 2-3 with 4 RBI and 1 run scored. Borer added 2 hits, Hodges 1; Mendoza scored 2 runs, Borer, McLaren, and Vierra 1 each.
TMHS’ Strong had 2 hits (1 RBI), Payne and P. Fenumiai 1 hit (1 R) apiece, and Mariah Tanuvasa Tuvaifale 1 hit (1 RBI).
Ketchikan advances to play Sitka in a semifinal at 6 p.m. today; TMHS plays Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé today at 3 p.m. in an elimination game. JDHS lost to Sitka 13-5 on Thursday.
KTN junior batter Erika Rauwolf attempts a bunt as TMHS freshman catcher Sydney Strong reacts.
