By John Leggett

Staff writer

Like a sleek black panther moving through the jungle and feasting on unsuspecting prey, Bonney Lake’s fastpitch squad situated itself comfortably atop the South Puget Sound League 3A food chain.

Coming into this week’s abbreviated league action the Panthers were a perfect 5-0 in league play.

Bonney Lake claimed three more victims as it began its home stand March 23, blanking Clover Park 16-0, then handing Auburn Mountainview its initial defeat of the season 5-1 and edging a plucky Lakes squad 4-3 Friday as the Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to salt away their fifth league win.

Against Clover Park, it was all about stingy pitching of Kayla Wells, who allowed only one hit in four innings.

Chloe Beal and Taylor Watkins both went 3-for-3 and Sammy Ebner delivered another home run.

The Panthers broke a scoreless tie with Auburn Mountainview in the bottom of the fifth, gleaning a pair of runs and then tacked on the clinchers with a trio of runs in the sixth to assure the win.

Friday, Bonney Lake kicked the ball around the diamond for three errors, which allowed the Lancers to sneak back into the game and tie things up at three apiece in the top of the fifth.

But even on its worst day, Bonney Lake remained undefeated in league, as it pulled out the win in the end as young Wells, this time starting in left field, went 2-for-2 with a double and a stolen base.