Softball and baseball looking for every break this spring
PORT ORCHARD — Several times during Friday's softball game between South Kitsap and Curtis, I caught SK assistant coach James Bergstrom handing candy to players who reached first base while the Wolves were up to bat.
After South Kitsap's 5-0 victory, senior Sarah Hoyt and sophomore Kamdyn Hagerty let me know exactly what type of candy Bergstrom has stashed in his pocket. Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch would approve.
"Skittles," Hoyt and Hagerty said in unison as speckled gold paint shined on their cheeks.
This is the type of small detail this high school sports reporter loves to discover when I'm out attending games, which can be a tricky endeavor this time of year. It hasn't felt like an overly rainy spring, but there have been quite a few baseball, softball and tennis teams dealing with postponements.
South Kitsap's softball team, for instance, opened the season March 11 with a 23-0 road win at Central Kitsap. The Wolves didn't play their second game until Friday. The team's had games against North Kitsap, Sumner and Bethel rained out.
"It's just the luck of the draw," South Kitsap head coach Bobby Lawrence said.
The most recent rain-out against Bethel happened so late in the day, the Wolves opted to play dodgeball in the school gymnasium instead of practice.
With two weeks of pent-up energy in their systems, South Kitsap's players couldn't wait to get going Friday. The 4 p.m. contest actually started 15 minutes early (this sports reporter wasn't complaining one bit).
"Games are just so much fun," Hoyt said. "We just all show up super early, we're all hyped, it's a good old time."
Hoyt provided the biggest offensive spark for the Wolves. She collected three hits, including a two-run homer in the third inning, and finished a double shy of the cycle.
On the mound, Hagerty used an effective riseball to help strand Curtis runners in several innings while recording her second shutout of the season. The sophomore said she doesn't mind traffic on the bases.
"I kind of like the pressure," Hagerty said. "I feel like I pitch better when I have pressure. I just get into my zone."
South Kitsap's defense made several key plays, including one in the fifth inning that saw Curtis put runners on first and second with one out. On a pop fly to shallow center field, South Kitsap junior Emma Stamp nearly came up with a diving catch, but the ball popped out of her glove. Stamp quickly gathered the ball and threw to third base, allowing the Wolves to get a pair of forceouts to exit the inning unscathed.
Despite the victory, Hoyt said it wasn't a perfect game by any means.
"It definitely showed we didn't play in two weeks," she said.
Friday's dry weather provided an opportunity for me to catch a second contest in the evening. After South Kitsap's game ended, I hopped in my car and made a 25-minute drive to Silverdale to catch Central Kitsap's home baseball game against North Kitsap. Over 100 spectators gathered for the contest, which saw the Vikings win 5-3 to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Central Kitsap High School boasts the only on-campus turf baseball field in West Sound, so games are virtually rainproof — something appreciated by all involved.
"If we had something like this, you'd never worry," North Kitsap head coach Jeff Weible said. "I'll always schedule these guys. It's fun to play on the turf."
The Vikings haven't been immune to rainouts this season. Three times, North Kitsap has seen a road game against Olympic rained out due to wet field conditions at Gene Lobe Field at the Fairgrounds. Another game against Bainbridge has been postponed.
On Thursday, North Kitsap hosted Kingston in a game that was supposed to be played on the road. Kingston's field wasn't playable, but the Vikings made sure their field dried out enough for the game to proceed. Weible used absorbent pads and field conditioner to clear puddles near third base and shortstop.
"It's the price of doing business with our field," Weible said.
Central Kitsap (3-4) grabbed a 3-1 victory after two innings before North Kitsap rallied with a run in the fourth inning and three runs in the sixth inning. Sophomore Cole Edwards earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief, while Noah Sorensen, who is committed to Oregon State University, finished with three RBI to lead the Vikings' offense.
"He's kind of been struggling with the bat a little bit, so it's good to see him get going," Weible said.
With April right around the corner, hopefully we'll see more days like Friday when teams don't have to pay close attention to the weather forecast. Personally, I felt fortunate being able to cover two games in one day. It sure beats zero.
Jeff Graham covers high school sports for the Kitsap Sun. Reach him at jgraham@kitsapsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Jeff Graham: Making the most of a rain-free day in sports
