JOSHUA WASHBURN
The North Olympic Peninsula is sending three fastpitch teams to the state championships this weekend.
The Chimacum Cowboys, winners of the West Central District Class 2A tournament last weekend, will join the 3A Sequim Wolves and the B Quilcene Rangers at state starting Friday.
Class 3A Sequim Wolves
SEQUIM — The Sequim fastpitch team is headed back to Tacoma on Friday after picking up the No. 3 seed to the state championships on Saturday in the Class 3A West Central District in Tacoma.
After winning in their first two district games on Friday, the Wolves began Saturday against Nisqually League rival North Mason, which beat Sequim 1-0 in 10 innings of play.
Jessica Rosencrants picked up a rare loss on the mound for the Wolves, despite giving up just six hits, with 10 strikeouts.
“I wanted to play them,” Wolves head coach Mel Hendrickson said about the Bulldogs. “It was a good game.”
With their backs against the wall, the Wolves quickly rebounded, picking up the next two wins and a one-way ticket to state.
After knocking off Washington 3-1, the Wolves quickly finished things off, handing Hazen a 12-0 loss and a long ride home.
Rosencrants, who appears to get stronger as time goes on, picked up the win in the final game, giving up no hits with eight strikeouts in five innings pitched.
Leading the way at the plate for Sequim were Molly Fletcher, who was 3-for-4, followed by Katy Heins (2-for-4, triple), Paige Seamonds (1-for-2, two RBIs) and Yolanda Chinn (2-for-2).
2A Chimacum Cowboys
CHIMACUM — Despite the fact that it is still spring, the Chimacum girls fastpitch team should be feeling like the girls of summer after earning its third straight ticket to the big dance.
In her first year at the helm, Cowboys head coach Sarah Voigt led the team to the Class 2A West Central District championship, where Chimacum defeated Orting 4-3 in 10 innings for the title on Saturday.
“Orting put up a really good fight,” Voigt said. “We just bunted the ball really well, and we’re able to execute runs that way.”
Picking up the win as she has all season was freshman Aly Rae (16-2), who gave up just three runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts.
“She’s a smart pitcher,” Voigt said. “She knows her strengths better than I do, and I like it that way.”
Caitlin Eldridge led the Cowboys offensively, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
With the big dance just a few days away, Voigt says that she is confident in the way her girls are playing, and looks for good thing to come.
“I just want these girls to be excited for the chance to play and know that they have a chance to win,” Voigt said. “They have the talent, now I just need to get them to know it.”
The Cowboys will open up Class 2A State Championship play against LaCenter in first-round action at 10 a.m. on Field 3 at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee.
Class B Quilcene Rangers
QUILCENE — Show me 60 percent, and I will show you the bench.
That is how Quilcene head coach Jerry Severn has challenged his girls this season, and it worked.
The Rangers picked up the No. 2 seed to the state championships after losing to Evergreen 12-1 in the Class B Tri-Districts Tournament on Thursday.
“They came out slap hitting and it worked,” Severn said. “But I am not going to let the girls dwell on that. I just want them to focus on the job at hand.”
The Rangers are looking strong offensively going into state play, especially behind the outstanding pitching of Sierra McCoy.
“She is probably one of the best in B league play,” Severn said. “And we have 11 great hitters. We should do fine.”
The Rangers (19-4) will open up the Class B State Championships against Mossyrock at 10 a.m. on Friday in Yakima.
When asked about how he and his team were feeling going into Friday, Severn said that he just wants to keep the girls positive and focused on the job at hand.
“There are 16 teams out of 100 or so going into this thing,” Severn said. “We are one of those 16, which means we are just as good.”