ABERDEEN – A game of lead changes and momentum shifts ended with Aberdeen on top as they defeated RA Long 17-16 in a 2A District play-in game on Tuesday.

RA Long’s offense nearly matched Aberdeen run-for-run but was quieted down by Bobcats relief pitcher Kacie Powell, who entered the game in the sixth inning and surrendered one hit and issued a walk in 1-2/3 innings of work.

Powell got some help from shortstop Sierra Hammond who squeezed the final out of the game on a hard-hit line drive with the tying run on first.

Aberdeen head coach Scott Wilson was impressed with the way Powell came through in relief and gave credit to starter Jayln McDaniel for dealing with the Lumberkjack’s aggressive offense.

“We would throw outside and they would hit the ball and they made our pitchers work,” he said. “(McDaniel) was getting hit around out there and she never gave up and Kacie came in and did a great job for us.”

RA Long’s Cassidy Donaldson gave Aberdeen a particularly hard time and went 4-for-5 with three doubles and four RBI. Camryn Hamin was a tough out as well, going 5-for-5 with a double and four RBI.

The Lumberjacks made some loud contact with four doubles but Aberdeen kept the flyballs in the park and avoided surrendering the long ball.

While Aberdeen was outhit by RA Long 22-9 the Bobcats were able to work six walks and were plunked by Lumberjack pitchers on four occasions.

Aberdeen’s offense fired the opening salvo with five runs in the second inning. Alley Troseth got the key knock with single that drove in two runs and came around to score later in the frame.

RA Long responded the next half-inning with nine runs in the top of the third.

Not to be outdone, Aberdeen tacked on another five runs in the bottom of the third to recapture the lead in an inning where the Bobcats only got two hits, both singles from Hammond and Powell.

The lead would change hands twice after that with the Bobcats dealing the fatal blow with another five-run rally in the fifth.

RA Long pitcher Myah Bodily issued four walks in the inning, including a free pass to pinch-hitter Emma Krenz, who then scored a crucial insurance run for the Bobcats.

Wilson said his team kept its confidence at the plate throughout even after its early lead had evaporated and turned into a four-run deficit.

“One of the things that I’ve been preaching all year is not ever giving up no matter what the score is. I couldn’t be more proud of them,” he said. “They scored nine runs in the third inning and we were down 9-5 and they just kept chipping away.”

With the victory, Aberdeen advances to the first round of the district playoffs, where they’ll take on Ridgefield at 4 p.m. Thursday at Borst Park in Centralia.

“We used to play them in non-league games and they are a tough team,” Wilson said. “They’re the number one seed in their district for a reason, so we definitely have our work cut out for us.”

RA Long 009 241 0 – 16 22 2

Aberdeen 055 250 x – 17 9 4

WP: McDaniel (5 IP, 10 ER, K)

LP: Bodily (5 BB, 8 ER)

SV: Powell (2 IP, BB)

Leading Hitters: A – Glanz (2-5, 6 RBI) Powell (2 H, 3 RBI) Hammnd (1-3, 3 RBI, 3 R) RA – Donaldson (4-5, 4 RBI 3 2B) Hamin (5-5, 2B, 4 RBI)