KIRKLAND, Wash. — Midway’s pitching and defense stayed true to form Monday at the Junior Softball World Series.

Unfortunately for Midway, the offense couldn’t follow suit.

Playing against defending champion Puerto Rico in its first game of pool play, Midway lost, 1-0, to open their first day at 10-team tournament. The loss is Midway’s first in this year’s postseason since losing to Lacy Lakeview in the second game of the district tournament last month.

Steady play from the circle and in the field has been a hallmark of this Midway team, and nothing changed on that front Monday. Pitcher Callee Guffey struck out 10 batters and gave up a single run and just three hits over the entire game. But Puerto Rico pitcher Jacelyn De Leon was just a little better, throwing a complete game one-hitter a day after throwing a shutout in a 16-0 win over the hosts.

Carisa Goodall tallied Midway’s only hit when she laced a single over the shortstop in the third inning. Alexia Rowe led off the first with a walk, but other than that, baserunners were tremendously scarce.

Puerto Rico scored the game’s only run in the sixth inning off a stand-up double, which scored a runner from first.

Midway still has three pool games left to vault into Pool A’s top two, which guarantees them a spot in Friday’s semifinal. Midway faces Canada today at 4 p.m. CST. The game is being broadcast for a fee on www.youthsportslive.com, and post-game photos are available on the Junior World Series Twitter website, www.twitter.com/jrsoftballworldseries.

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