The Redmond High fastpitch team gave a valiant effort last Thursday, winning three straight consolation-bracket games at the 4A Kingco tournament, but fatigue finally caught up to them in a 11-5 loss to Bothell.

Due to a rainout the day before, the Mustangs were forced to play loser-out games at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. — wins against Eastlake, Lake Washington and Issaquah — setting up a 7 p.m. showdown against the Cougars.

In the pivotal game, the Mustangs had their only bad inning of the tournament, surrendering seven runs on four hits and five walks in the first inning, allowing the Cougars to coast to victory.

Game three featured a fantastic pitcher’s duel between Redmond starter Melissa White and Issaquah’s Mikenzie Voves, and in the end Redmond escaped with a thrilling 1-0 victory.

With both pitchers mowing down the other team’s offenses, Voves had a perfect game going through six innings and White had given up just three hits and no walks, setting up the dramatic seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh, Redmond centerfielder Riley Flynn fired a cannon and nailed a runner in a pickle trying to score from second base on a single, and then White induced a grounder and strikeout to end the Eagles’ scoring threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Redmond second baseman Stephanie Gero drew a walk, the Mustangs’ first base runner of the game. The next batter, Ashley Mitchell, laid down a bunt single and cleanup hitter Jenny Eisenmann drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases with one out.

The game’s hero was Lindsay Cristobal, who chopped a 2-1 pitch over the third baseman’s head for a walk-off RBI single.

In earlier games, the Mustangs upset the Crest Division champion Eastlake Wolves 5-4 and beat the Lake Washington Kangaroos 5-1.

Cristobal had a phenomenal tournament, going a combined 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles, and Melissa White notched two wins on the mound, allowing just five hits total in her two starts.

As a team, the Mustangs’ tournament rally enabled them to finish the year above .500 at 13-12.