It was a rough afternoon for Tahoma’s fastpitch team on Friday at Sprinker Recreation center as it went two out in the West Central District playoffs.

First the Bears faced a polished Emerald Ridge team that jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead in the early innings then finished Tahoma off in the fifth with a 12-2 win. Emerald Ridge was the no. 1 seed from the South Puget Sound League while Tahoma was the no. 10 seed.

Tahoma had high hopes they could at least win a game or two at districts maybe even exact revenge against a team they lost to during the regular season.

Thomas Jefferson would have none of that after its rally fell just short in its first game against Central Kitsap.

Jefferson beat Tahoma twice on a double header day in the middle of the SPSL 4A North regular season and the Raiders proved it’s not always so hard to beat a team three times in a season.

While Tahoma’s defense was initially fairly tough early on against Jefferson after giving up two runs in the first inning Jefferson’s bats eventually heated up as they tacked on five more runs in the fifth inning.

Late in the game Tahoma founds its offensive groove when it loaded the bases in the top of the seventh.

With two outs Shelby Carter smacked a ball out to center field driving in Sherry Linett who had drawn the walk and Kaila Wilkinson. It looked like Tahoma might get a two-out rally going and chip away at the lead but Lisa Maulden popped out in the next at bat ending the rally and the game.

The Bears finished the season 10-13 overall. They say goodbye to a pair of seniors, Hailey Granlund and Kim Reese-White, who pitched in both games at districts.

Tahoma will return five juniors next year: Alex Clyatt, Ashley Dyche, Alyse Henkle, Katie Meyers and Kaila Wilkinson.

Bears head coach Tom Milligan will also have a strong group of players who are underclassmen this year returning next year.