SPANAWAY — Through the course of a remarkable run for the Port Angeles softball team the seasons pass, but the names of the players have stayed much the same.
The Roughriders have racked up a 77-15 overall record in the past four seasons, including a 35-game Olympic League winning streak and three straight league titles.
Thanks to its most recent undefeated romp through league play, Port Angeles (16-1) earned a first-round bye in the district playoffs, which open today at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway.
The Riders are seeking their fifth consecutive state tournament berth and will face the winner of Steilacoom-Franklin Pierce at 4:15 p.m.
That level of success has been largely carved by a core group of starters and reserves that have played together dating back to their youth softball days, including a number of players following in the diamond-dominating footsteps of older siblings.
The Riders’ roster is experienced with six seniors and six juniors leading the charge.
It doesn’t hurt that much of the lineup also has had the same coaching staff, headed up by Randy Steinman, since they first started swinging in earnest. Steinman has coached many of these players since their youth softball days.
Many of the players, such as dominant pitcher Nizhoni Wheeler, catcher Lauren Lunt, first baseman Kylee Reid, second baseman Natalie Steinman and shortstop Taylar Clark, have started for multiple seasons.
“They’ve played together pretty much since they’ve been 10, except for Taylar who transferred in when she was a sophomore,” said Randy Steinman. “And she was a great fit.”
Reid, Steinman and outfielder Ashley Howell all had older sisters play on recent Riders’ teams.
“These girls, watching their older siblings, they were around the ballpark all the time growing up and that makes a huge difference,” Steinman said.
“They have the passion for this game, this whole team. And that’s what sets them apart from other teams.”
Missing nuptials
That level of commitment to the game and to the team will be displayed Saturday by Reid, who will miss her eldest sister Ashlee’s wedding while playing in the district tournament.
It’s conceivable Ashlee could be saying “I do,” while Kylee and her Port Angeles teammates play for a district championship.
Ashlee was a slugging first baseman capable of piling up the RBIs and home runs in her days on the Dry Creek diamond.
Kylee Reid has come up with crucial hits in her time as a starter and has shown the type of power Ashlee was well-known for this season with four home runs, six doubles and 14 RBIs.
“She’s really turned into that home run hitter and plays a nice first base,” Randy Steinman said.
Kylee Reid said she and her sister had arguments about the wedding date but it couldn’t be helped.
“She’s been in my place, she knows districts is always this weekend, but her soon-to-be husband is in the military, so they pretty much had to have the wedding this weekend,” she said.
“It’s tough because we’ve always been really close and it’s something we’ve talked about since we were little [being in each other’s wedding parties], but she understands, she knows how important it is to me as a senior.”
“I’ll make the reception, but I have to be there for my team. And I will be there for my sister as well, so it kind of evens out.”
Natalie Steinman’s elder sister Sarah, was a solid pitcher and line-drive hitter, who graduated in 2014.
Natalie Steinman is a slick-fielding second baseman who has provided a powerful punch at the plate in leading the team in home runs with eight this season.
She said there was a normal amount of sibling rivalry between the two.
“Sometimes we tease each other and I think we’ve pushed each other a lot,” Natalie Steinman said.
“I remember when I was little and I would come out to practice and watch her play and she would always say, ‘Come on, come play with us.’ So she’s been a big influence. We never got to play together but she’d pull me into practices.”
The next sibling pairing already is on the roster. Cheyenne Wheeler, a JV standout, received the postseason call-up to join Nizhoni on the varsity.
And Randy Steinman said more siblings are on the same path to Port Angeles softball.
”Kylee Reid has two younger siblings that are coming up, there’s a couple of Clarks, another Edwards girl that’s down there [playing youth softball], he said.
“There’s another Robinson, but I haven’t checked out her speed yet to see if it’s the same as [junior leadoff hitter] Sierra’s.”
Steinman credits youth and select programs for their work in producing finely rounded players.
“We have a good youth program, a good select program and it’s a baseball/softball town. It really is.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
