Bellevue Christian defeated the Coupeville High School softball team 6-2 Friday, May 22, at the District 3 1A tournament at Tacoma’s Sprinker Fields, ending the Wolves’ season.

Coupeville, which produced several seventh-inning rallies this season to pull out mirale wins, couldn’t muster the magic this time. It scored two runs in the seventh and finished with the bases loaded, but the Vikings held on for the win.

It was the third time this season Bellevue Christian stopped the Wolves. The Vikings beat Coupeville 6-0 and 13-4 in non-league games during the regular season.

In the district opener, BC strung together five hits in the first inning to go ahead 3-0. It added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to go up 6-0.

Coupeville (7-12) had only four base runners heading into the sixth inning when it finally had a chance to make a dent in the Vikings’ lead.  An error allowed Tiffany Briscoe to reach base, then walks to McKayla Bailey and Hailey Hammer loaded the bases with one out. The next two Coupeville batters, however, took a called strike three, and the threat ended.

In the top of the seventh, four walks, an error and a base hit by Katrina McGranahan pushed across two runs. The Wolves, however, had runners thrown out at third and home and couldn’t come all the way back.

“A clutch diving catch by Bellevue Christian’s shortstop ended the game,” Coupeville coach Deanna Rafferty said.

Coupeville rapped only three hits, two from McGranahan and a single by Robin Cedillo.

“Almost everyone hit the ball in the game,” Rafferty said,” it was just unfortunately right where their defense was.”

Defensive standouts, Rafferty said, were pitcher Bailey, who struck out six, and center fielder Hope Lodell, who ran down two fly balls.

“Despite the four-and-a-half hour bus ride, these girls played their hearts out, and I’m so proud to end the way we did.”