Some coaches might panic when they shuffle their lineup ahead of a big game. But for the W.F. West Bearcats, a little change only made them stronger—and put them on the verge of another league title.
On Monday afternoon, the Bearcats took down Tumwater 7-2 on the road, inching ever closer to an Evergreen Conference championship. Freshman Brooklyn Spencer stepped into the leadoff spot, Allie Smitherman moved up to No. 2, and Rayah Middleton settled into the No. 5 hole. The moves paid off immediately.
Smitherman wasted no time making an impact. The center fielder took the first pitch she saw from Tumwater starter Sarah Stevens and launched it over the right-field fence for a solo home run—a statement swing that set the tone for the afternoon. Karly Rasmussen followed with an RBI single, and Tanner Tobin scored on an error in the second inning to give W.F. West early control.
"We were putting pressure on them, something we haven't done much in the past," Bearcats head coach Kevin Zylstra said. "The girls are hitting on all cylinders."
W.F. West (16-2, 12-1 EvCo) added three more runs in the seventh inning, with the last two crossing the plate thanks to Tumwater miscues. In total, the Bearcats took advantage of six T-Bird errors, turning defensive lapses into runs. It was a complete team effort—smart baserunning, timely hitting, and aggressive play that has become the team's trademark.
In the circle, Taylor Tobin was dominant. She struck out eight batters and allowed just four hits on 97 efficient pitches. The only blemish came when Riley Smith launched a two-run home run for Tumwater (10-8, 7-6), but by then, the Bearcats had already built a comfortable lead. Tumwater is locked into the No. 3 seed for districts and will face Black Hills on Wednesday.
For W.F. West, the next challenge is clear: one more win and the league title is theirs. That opportunity could come as soon as Wednesday in the final Swamp Cup meeting against Centralia at Rec Park. If Monday's performance is any indication, the Bearcats are ready to seize it.