Stafford's three-run double propels Bearcats over T-Birds

"I started to panic a little bit," Stafford confessed, saying he was surprised to see the runners take off. "But then I just made an easy play. Play catch, it's what we praise, and we got him out."

Hoffman pitched the final two innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run while walking one and striking out three.

Prior to Hoffman entering, Emmett Goodman pitched the first three and a third, allowing three hits and an unearned run of his own while walking one and striking out two, and Connor Coleman allowed a hit and three earned runs while walking three and striking out a pair across an inning and two-thirds.

"They didn't have their best stuff today, none of them did," Elam acknowledged. "Just for them to compete every pitch and just being resilient enough to bow their neck a little bit when we needed it. All three of them, they were studs today."

Stafford finished as the only player with multiple hits in the game, going 2 for 4 with his three runs batted in, while Hoffman added a pair of RBIs and Hiroto Smaciarz drove in a run of his own.

"We went 1-0 today, and that's always our goal," Elam said. "We're trying to play our style of baseball and play how we do. Play against the baseball more than the opponent. I feel like we did a really good job of that today."

In the other dugout, the Thunderbirds walked off the field thinking about their missed opportunities, specifically in the final two innings.

Tumwater coach Lyle Overbay noted that they didn't get the jump on the final steal attempt that they were hoping for, but added that stranding the runners earlier in the game was the difference.

"We're gonna learn how to hit in those situations," Overbay said. "That's a tight game, and those (situations) are gonna happen. If we want to go to where we want to go, that's gonna be the difference ... It's about fine-tuning and figuring those things out. Believing in themselves, and if they don't do it, the next guy is gonna come up and do it for them."

Charlie Crawford finished with two RBIs thanks to a two-run single in the fourth, and Lyle Overbay, Peyton Davis, and Jayden Stacy drove in a run each.

Jimmy Womach pitched the first five innings, earning a no-decision after allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out four.

"He's a competitor," Lyle Overbay said. "For the most part, he was pretty dominant and just able to locate his pitches. That's him. That's why he's getting that start, because we can get guys out when we're locating."

After winning their first four league games, the Thunderbirds have now lost their last two and sit in third place in the EvCo.

The T-Birds (8-4, 4-2 2A EvCo) will look to bounce back on Tuesday in Shelton.

"I know we didn't end up on the winning end, but we saw a lot of good things," Lyle Overbay said. "We hit the ball really well, just right at people ... There were things that are very positive, and we're gonna get those breaks here and there."

With the win, W.F. West (11-1, 6-0 2A EvCo) remains unbeaten in league play and in sole possession of first place in the EvCo standings.

The Bearcats have now won 11 in a row since losing their season opener in Camas, and they'll look to hit an even dozen at home against second-place Aberdeen on Tuesday.

"It's a really fun group, and we're really picking up hot right now," Stafford said. "Stay tuned into us."