When the Auburn Riverside Ravens first took on the Kentridge Chargers, they seemed to be missing something. The Ravens fell 3-1 back on April 17, and were missing an edge — a spark to get the fastpitch team over the top against the Chargers.

The two sides met once again in the final league game on the calendar on May 9, and whether it was playing at home or newfound confidence, the Ravens looked like a different team and rode a six-run sixth inning to an 8-3 win over Kentridge.

“We knew going in that it was going to be a battle. Last time they got us at their place. We knew with a pitcher like Thompson, we knew we had to bring it. I’m really proud of our girls for how we battled,” Head Coach Bryce Strand said.

Kentridge’s Jo Thompson is the best player in the NPSL that isn’t on Tahoma’s roster. Strand knew that she was going to be in the circle for Kentridge, and he wanted to see what his team would do against Thompson on this second go-round.

In that sixth inning, the spark came from the bottom of the lineup as Auburn Riverside trailed 3-2. Mayah Cabatan-Flowers started off with a walk, and then with one out and runners on second and third, Lauren Watson stepped to the plate in the nine hole.

“In the middle innings, we didn’t score, but we had a lot of opportunities. I felt like the sixth inning was the payoff,” Strand said.

Watson showed bunt on three pitches, yet failed to put the ball in play. With two strikes, she bounced a single past Thompson and into centerfield to score two runs and take the lead over the Chargers.

“That felt really good. I was really proud of myself for putting the bat on the ball,” Watson said.

With the bases loaded, Seneca Aarstad hit a sharp ground ball that sped by Mackenna Bennett down the third-base line, and Aarstad slid into the third base with a triple that gave Auburn Riverside a 7-3 advantage.

Aarstad would score on a wild pitch, and the Ravens needed just three outs to close out arguably their best game of the season.

Defensively, the Ravens made a handful of plays that stopped any Kentridge momentum. Cabatan-Flowers at shortstop made two crucial plays along with Curtis fielding her position in the circle.

“When someone makes a good play, it really boosts the energy. It keeps building momentum,” Watson said.

In their first meeting, Auburn Riverside didn’t score until the third inning, but against Thompson the second time, the Ravens got some early run production from a familiar source.

Hannah Potter has been the model for consistency all season for Strand. She started the game off with a home run on the fourth pitch from Thompson. After the game on social media, Potter brought up how much she liked competing against the league’s top arm.

“We knew that it was probably going to be a low scoring game. Getting one helped, and then we got another. That’s what you gotta do against a pitcher like that,” Strand said.

In the second, the bottom of the Raven offense showed that they were ready to go. Kaylie Satalich reached on an error and was followed by back-to-back walks. That brought up the top of the lineup, and Potter singled home Satalich to give the Ravens a 2-0 lead.

“That helped us settle in. Once we got into the groove in that second inning, it kept going,” Watson said.

Freshman Kylee Curtis started in the circle for the Ravens, and she kept the Chargers off-balance the whole game. Curtis pitched three times through the order, recorded a double play, and took a ground ball off the mask and leg before coming out of the game.

Kentridge scored two runs in the fifth to tie the game before scoring a run in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. The first run scored on a one-out single from Thompson and a two-out single from Bennett.

Mackenna Vircks entered the game in the fifth with two outs, and the top of the order for Kentridge produced the leading run. Genesis Miller singled and later scored on a Naomi Benavides double.

But the Raven offense bounced back with a six spot in the sixth inning to take the lead, and Vircks quieted the bats in the final inning as just two Chargers reached base via base on balls.

For the last game of the season, the Ravens host crosstown rival Auburn Mountainview. The outcome has no impact on the Ravens’ season as they were given the number eight seed in their first 4A District Tournament since 2018, and take on Puyallup on May 16.

Alayna Liliequist rounds third base for the Ravens. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Hannah Potter gives a big smile after hitting a home run. Ben Ray / The Reporter