Forks’ Kyra Neel slides safely into third during the second game of a doubleheader against Raymond on Tuesday at Tillicum Park in Forks. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)

Forks’ Kyra Neel slides safely into third during the second game of a doubleheader against Raymond on Tuesday at Tillicum Park in Forks. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)

PREP SOFTBALL: Forks splits doubleheader with Raymond

Kyra Neel and Kyrissa Duncan each go 7 for 8 at the plate

FORKS — After a rousing 11-4 win in the first game of an afternoon softball twinbill with Raymond at Tillicum Park, Forks’ bats didn’t go quiet, but their voices fell silent in an 8-5 loss.

The Spartans are as loud in the dugout as any NCAA College World Series softball squad with a variety of chants and cheers designed for individual players, game-specific situations and even player numbers.

You’ll hear the team’s chant for leadoff hitter Kadie Woods; “No. 8 is a dominator for catcher Kyra Neel; and a “Niner, Niner, hit a line driver” ode for No. 9, Chloe Leverington.

The chants aren’t always original, but they are personalized, Neel said.

“When we play other teams, we hear them, and we will adopt them and change them for us,” Neel said.

The Spartans growl when a Forks batter fights off a pitch for a foul ball, and they anticipate a hitter earning a walk on three-ball counts to try and get into the head of the opposing pitcher.

And in Game One, there was plenty to be excited about. Forks pounded out 15 hits, led by Neel, who went 4 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. Kyrissa Duncan went 3 for 3 with a triple, and a 3-for-4 hitting performance by Leverington included a triple, a double and three RBIs.

Leverington also struck out nine Seagulls in four innings of work to earn the win.

Spartans coach Traci Kratzer said the first game was a better reflection of her young team’s capabilities.

“We played our normal game, and the second game we did not play our normal game. It was like a light switch [went off],” Kratzer said. “They are usually talkative, but for some reason it shut off. We will work it out tomorrow in practice.”

Forks wasn’t off at the plate in Game Two, totaling 13 hits, but some miscues behind the plate and some baserunning mistakes kept the team subdued.

“Normally, we like to talk a lot, and it helps us to stay hyped up, but when we are not hyped up, we don’t have the Spartan Way,” Neel said. “First game we had it, second game we lost it.”

Leverington struck out 12 but wasn’t as consistent with her command in the second game, and freshman catcher Keira Johnson had some early-inning troubles adjusting to balls in the dirt before Neel swapped positions with her.

“It was my bad,” Kratzer said. “I put in a younger catcher who isn’t used to her. We have to have her catch Chloe more in practice.”

A change in home plate umpires also meant a change in strike zones.

“Different ump; we lost the strike zone [from the first game],” Neel said.

Neel tripled again in game two, going 3 for 4 with an RBI. Leverington also had an RBI double down the third-base line, while Elizabeth Soto went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs for the Spartans.

Duncan continued her solid day, going 3 for 4.

“Kyrissa Duncan hit some really good balls today; her bat was on,” Kratzer said.

Soto opened the top of the seventh with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second base. After a strikeout, Neel singled with two outs, but Forks couldn’t pull off a two-out rally.

“I just wanted to win,” Neel said. “I tried to hype everybody up to get the second game, but we couldn’t rally.”

Kratzer said her team can produce even more than the 28 combined hits the Spartans amassed in Tuesday’s games.

“I’m not going to say today was as good as a hitting day as what we are capable of, even in the first game,” Kratzer said. “But like I told the girls, we can always take from what we have done and not done, and learn from that and be better players.”

Forks (5-1) is at Ocosta for a doubleheader today.

Forks 11, Raymond 4

R 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 — 4 4 3

F 3 3 2 3 0 0 x — 11 15 2

WP: C. Leverington LP: I. Silvernail

Pitching

Raymond — I. Silvernail 6 IP, 11 R, 15 H, 3 BB, 5 H.

Forks — Leverington 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 9 K, 2 BB, HB; Wood 3 IP, 4 R, H, 4 BB, 4 K.

Hitting

Forks — Neel 4-4, 3B, 3 RBI; C. Leverington 3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Duncan 3-4, 3B; Wood 2-3, ROE, RBI; Rigby 1-3, RBI.

Raymond 8, Forks 5

F 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 — 5 13 2

R 1 1 0 5 1 1 x — 8 6 1

WP: Swogger LP: C. Leverington

Pitching

Raymond — Swogger 7 IP, 5 R, 13 H, 3 BB, 4 K.

Forks — Leverington 6 IP, 8 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 12 K.

Hitting

Forks — Neel 3-4, 3B, RBI; Duncan 3-4, Soto 2-3, 2 RBI; C. Leverington 1-4, 2B, RBI.

_______

Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.

More in Sports

SportsLogos.net
CARMAN’S COLUMN: Be prepared for lengthy NBA title run

Hoping curse kicks in, but OKC looking poised to win

Photo by Karen O'Donnell
Hands Across the Water International Yacht Race participants finish the Victoria-to-Port Angeles portion of the race in Port Angeles Harbor last Saturday.
SAILING: Yacht races seal border bond

Sailors from both the U.S. and Canada came together… Continue reading

The top three finishers in the women's masters short course race of the Gravel Unravel this weekend celebrate in Quilcene receiving their medals. From left are Jennifer Ritter of Boise, Idaho, third, Emiko Atherton of Seattle, first, and Shaun Baesman of Bainbridge, second. (David Goetze)
GRAVEL UNRAVEL: Big hills, thick clouds and close finishes

It wasn’t as muddy as some past years, but the… Continue reading

The Port Angeles Illusion fastpitch softball team won the 14U C state championship Sunday by beating the Bonney Lake Firecrackers 13-3 in the title game. From left, top row, are Jenessa Balch, assistant coach Leeah Faris, coach Warren Stevens, Teyah Elofson, Riley Nichols, Brooklyn Rondeau, Misty McNeely, McKenna Cox, Sophia Calderon, Britney Rowland and Greg Faris. From left bottom row, are Ayla Balch, Kylin Weitz, Alexia Fuller, Mattie Messenger, Tyann Connary, Kailyn Crowder and Pearl Salazar.
STANDALONE PHOTO: Illusion 14U are state champs

The Port Angeles Illusion fastpitch softball team won the 14U C state… Continue reading

Wilder Baseball Club.
AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL: Wilder Jr. shuts out Wollochet behind DeLeon

Wilder Junior completed a sweep over Wollochet with four-hit… Continue reading

Port Angeles Lefties.
WEST COAST LEAGUE: Lefties swept by first-place Apple Sox

Despite a grand slam home run from Jeremy Giesegh, the… Continue reading

Strait Slice Pizza won the Peninsula Soccer League championship this weekend. From left, kneeling (not including children), are Kaye Thomas, Kelsey Kuhn, Beckie Lee, Mel Messineo, Taryn Asmus, Victoria Jones and Jack Waknitz. From left, standing, are Sam Havens, Ian Miller, Christine Loewe, Alli Roth, Aaron Lee, Kyle Henderson, Jimmy Quigley, Luke Strong-Cvetich, Zach Gray, Isaiah Jindrich and Minh Pham-Bui.
PENINSULA SOCCER LEAGUE: Strait Slice league champions

Strait Slice Pizza won the Peninsula Soccer League championship this weekend. From… Continue reading

Wilder Senior’s Bryant Laboy hits a chopper against Whatcom Post No. 7 while Landen Olson waits in the on-deck circle. Wilder Senior was able to win the pitchers’ duel with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh by Braydan White. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)
AMERICAN LEGION: Wilder Senior wins four straight

Senior’s Ethan Staples fires no-hitter

Port Angeles Lefties.
WEST COAST LEAGUE: Lefties drop pair of games to Wenatchee

The Port Angeles Lefties couldn’t have had two more different… Continue reading

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Lefties first baseman Will White tries to catch Seattle Gumberoos baserunner Eoin Buechs off the bag during Thursday's game at Port Angeles Civic Field.
PORT ANGELES LEFTIES: Lefties sweep the Gumberoos after 9-1 victory

The Port Angeles Lefties completed a three-game sweep over… Continue reading

Crab season begins in marine areas surrounding the North Olympic Peninsula on July 3. (Annie Johnson/WDFW)
OUTDOORS: Recreational crabbing season to open July 3

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Puget Sound… Continue reading