As the season winds down, the South Puget Sound League 2A second place Sumner Spartans and the 3A third place Bonney Lake Panthers faced off against each other Saturday.
The rivalry game was played at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, the home of the Tacoma Rainiers.
After seven innings of play, Sumner beat Bonney Lake 5-4.
The Panthers led early in the game 1-0 at the bottom of the second inning as the Spartans came to bat.
Bonney Lake added to its lead in the top of third with a two out hit to center field. The Panthers went up 2-0 over Sumner.
In the bottom of the third, the Spartans scored its first runs of the game on a two-run home run by Tysen Fischlin.
The tied ballgame wouldn’t last long as the Panthers took the lead back on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth.
The Panthers remained in the lead until the bottom of the fifth when Fischlin scored on an over thrown ball trying to pick him off second base.
Sumner and Bonney Lake were tied at 3 until the top of the sixth when the Panthers scored on a wild pitch.
The Panthers entered the final inning of the game with the lead 4-3 over the Spartans.
Bonney Lake’s final out of the inning came off a hit to left field where Fischlin threw out a runner at home plate.
Sumner entered its final inning with one more chance to take the lead and the ballgame. The bases were loaded with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Bonney Lake turned a double play and were one out away from beating its rival. But on a wild pitch, the Spartans scored to tie the game at 4.
With the bases still loaded and now two outs, Gage Whitehead stepped to the plate for the Spartans.
Sumner scored the game winner and beat Bonney Lake by one, 5-4.
The Spartans’ next two games were played Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29 after the press deadline.
The final game of the regular season for Sumner is at 4 p.m. Wednesday as the host the league leading White River Hornets.
The Panthers’ next game was Tuesday, April 29 after the press deadline. Bonney Lake hosts the Lakes Lancers at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Scores from all games can be found at the Courier-Herald’s website when they become available.
