Bonney Lake Softball Tested by Emerald Ridge in 9-4 Loss, Eyes Key Matchup Ahead

The Insider
4 days ago
3 min read

Gigi Bell - 7.0 IP, 7 SO - 2 for 3 Double, 1 R

On a cold, windy April afternoon in Bonney Lake, the Panthers faced one of their toughest tests of the early season, and one that revealed both their fight and the areas still sharpening.

Coming into Thursday’s matchup, Bonney Lake sat at 6-1 overall and 4-1 in district play, good for second in the league. Across the field stood Emerald Ridge, a team looking to climb the standings at 5-5 in overall play.

Despite threatening weather throughout the day, the rain held off, but the Jaguars didn’t.

Early Momentum Swings

Freshman ace Gigi Bell got the start in the circle, continuing what has been a dominant opening stretch to her season. Entering the game, Bell carried a 0.97 ERA with 6 wins and 51 strikeouts, establishing herself as the clear ace for Bonney Lake.

But Emerald Ridge struck early, turning what could have been a quick inning into a 1-0 lead on a deep home run to center.

Bonney Lake answered immediately.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Anna Iovino delivered a clutch two-RBI single, continuing her strong season at the plate where she’s hitting .450 with a team-high 11 runs scored.

Zhosi Poole — Zhosi Pool - 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 R

Back-and-Forth Battle

Emerald Ridge responded in the second with a one-out double to even things at 2-2, then added another run in the third to take a 3-2 lead.

Bonney Lake had opportunities to answer but couldn’t capitalize, as a key double play halted a rally with runners in scoring position.

In the fourth, the Panthers broke through again. Zhosi Pool lined a single into the right-center gap, driving in a run to tie the game at 3-3. Poole has been a steady contributor this year, leading the team with 4 stolen bases.

At the plate, Bonney Lake continued to show depth:

Gabi Davis finished 2-for-4, continuing to swing a consistent bat
Gigi Bell helped her own cause, going 2-for-3 with a run scored
The Panthers totaled 10 hits on the day

Jaguars Pull Away Late

From there, Emerald Ridge took control.

The Jaguars erupted for three runs in the fifth inning to reclaim the lead at 6-3, then added two more in the sixth on a home run to right field, stretching the advantage to 8-3.

Bonney Lake continued to battle. With the bases loaded in the sixth, the Panthers scratched across another run to cut the deficit to 8-4, but couldn’t string together the big hit needed to fully climb back in.

Emerald Ridge added one more insurance run in the seventh on another home run to seal the 9-4 victory.

Bell finished the day with 7 strikeouts over 7 innings, but the Jaguars’ timely hitting proved to be the difference.

A Measuring Stick Game

Even in defeat, the Panthers showed flashes of why they’ve been one of the early surprises in the league.

Players like Maddie Speir, who leads the team with a .526 batting average, and Audrina Lickey, hitting .400 with a team-high 13 RBIs, continue to anchor a lineup capable of putting pressure on opposing defenses.

Looking Ahead

The loss marks Bonney Lake’s second of the season, but also provides a clear measuring stick as district play intensifies.

The Panthers won’t have to wait long for their next challenge.

Bonney Lake returns to action on Monday, April 6th at home against Rogers, currently 5-0 in district play and ranked No. 19 in the state. It’s another opportunity, and perhaps an even bigger one, for the Panthers to respond and prove themselves among the league’s best.

Box Score

Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR	3B	2B	SB
Zhosi Pool	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Morgan Berg	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Audrina Lickey	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
Maddie Speirs	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Anna Iovino	4	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
Rylee Craig	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gabi Davis	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gigi Bell	3	1	2	0	1	0	0	1	0
Addison Hannel	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0

Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	W	SV
Gigi Bell	7.0	15	9	9	0	7	0	0