It took a few words of wisdom from head coach Traci Odegard, but the Juanita High softball team responded with a five-run rally to beat Bellevue 7-4 in the first round of the 3A KingCo tournament on Thursday at Woodinville High School.

Odegard was named the league’s Coach of the Year earlier this week, and said the turnaround was all about the Rebels’ mindset at the plate.

“[Bellevue is] good team and they’ll come at you any day you play them, but we just were eager at the plate and had to take a different approach later in the game,” she said. “It worked out for us.”

The Rebels (16-5) took 15 walks, but struggled to capitalize on Bellevue’s mistakes. Juanita stranded 13 runners, and had to rally to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Blackburn pops up, but Eden Radke tags up and scores to tie the game. 4-all through four innings. pic.twitter.com/qpNZdOEd1N

— John William Howard (@JowardHoward) May 13, 2016

Tatum Kawabata singled to right field in the bottom of the fifth, batting Gianna Paribello around third and home to give the Rebels’ a 5-4 lead. Bellevue handed Juanita two runs on a bases-loaded walk and a hit batter with the bases loaded.

Lisa Nelson went the distance for Juanita, allowing two hits and striking out 10 batters, but walking six runners and allowing three earned runs.

Kristina Warford had the best day at the plate for the Rebels, finishing 1-2 with a double and three RBIs.

Next, Juanita is scheduled to play Lake Washington for the 3A KingCo tournament championship at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13 at Woodinville High School. Juanita snapped a long losing streak to the Kangs in the last matchup of crosstown rivals.

“It’s going to be a dogfight, I think,” Odegard said. “They’re a great team, but we’re a great team. You just never know.”