SEBASTOPOL – The West Lincoln Lady Bears rebounded from a 2-1loss in the opener and beat Sebastopol 9-8 and 14-10 Tuesday nightin the opening round of the Class 1A state slowpitch softballplayoffs.

The Lady Bears host Ethel Saturday for another best-of-threeseries. West Lincoln (8-14), coached by Andrew Redd, was staterunner-up last year.

Sebastopol 2, W. Lincoln 1

“We didn’t play well the first game,” said Redd. “I guess we were alittle nervous.”

At the plate, Katie Hester and Hailey Ainsworth singled twice forthe Bears. Alexis Cook, Jessica Franklin, Katie Mullins, MaloriHall and Micah Redd singled.

Franklin (0 K, 1 BB) was the losing pitcher as

Sebastopol finished with seven hits. Gill was the winning pitcherfor the Bobcats.

W. Lincoln 9, Sebastopol 8

The Bears broke an 8-8 tie after leading 8-3 in the second frame.In the bottom of the sixth, West Lincoln plated the go-ahead run.Ainsworth and Cook singled to start the game. Katie Hester’sgrounder advanced the runners and Franklin hit a sacrifice to scoreAinsworth.

“We were on the brink of elimination but we had some seniors whostepped up for us,” said Redd.

Franklin collected two singles and a triple in the comeback win.Katie Mullins singled twice and doubled. Karli Herrington, Redd andCook singled twice. Marissa Pruski, Hester, Hall and Bentley Sillssingled.

Franklin (1 K, 1 BB) was the winning hurler.

W. Lincoln 14, Sebastopol 10

“I was proud of my seniors in that game,” said Redd. “All of themhad multiple hits. They really stepped it up.”

The Bears exploded for six runs in the first inning and two more inthe second. They led 9-2 before Sebastopol rallied for five runs.West Lincoln replied with four more runs and a 13-7 lead.

Herrington went 4-for-4 with 3 singles and a homer. Ainsworthdoubled and tripled. Cook doubled twice. Hester tripled andhomered. Mullins homered and singled. Franklin singled twice. Halldoubled and Sills tripled.

Adding singles were Pruski and Redd.