SELAH — State softball tournaments are a grind on a physical and emotional level for every player on the roster, but even more so for a team’s pitching staff.
Hurlers at the Class 1A level and up must prepare themselves for the prospect of throwing in three high-stakes games in each of the tournament’s two days.
The four North Olympic Peninsula teams that open state today also must contend with Eastern Washington temperatures expected to break 90 degrees.
Class 2A Port Angeles (20-1) and Sequim (15-7) open at noon today at Carlon Park in Selah with games against W.F. West (19-3) and Othello (19-3), respectively.
Chimacum (12-8) faces Cle Elum-Roslyn today in the 1A tournament at noon at Columbia Playfields in Richland.
And 1B Quilcene (17-1) begins state with the program’s third straight state-opening game against Almira-Coulee-Harline at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima at 1 p.m.
Every classification has 16-team brackets except 1B which is an eight-team bracket with two games per day.
Port Angeles
The Roughriders’ primary pitcher is 6-foot-1 sophomore Nizhoni Wheeler.
Brought along slowly last year behind senior Sarah Steinman, Wheeler took charge late last season, getting starts and wins at the district and state level for Port Angeles.
Wheeler has played an integral role in the Riders’ success this season. She was voted Olympic League 2A MVP by the leauge’s coaches (see Page B7).
“She’s a presence out on that mound. And with her speed she’s just intimidating,” coach Randy Steinman said.
Wheeler has been preparing for state as the season has progressed.
“She’s been, probably, within the last three weeks to a month, she’s been pitching every single day,” Steinman said.
“She’s been trying to get the stamina up so she can withstand it.
“The worst part will be the heat this weekend, so we have to really keep an eye on all of our players.”
The motion of a softball pitcher’s release puts lets stress on the body than baseball, so pitchers can handle taking the circle multiple times in a day.
“We just monitor her lots of different ways, not just a pitch count,” Steinman said.
“I’ve been coaching her long enough she will let me know how she’s feeling and we will make adjustments from there.
“But Nizhoni is physically ready for state. She’s been working hard on all of her pitches and she’s ready to go and looking forward to it.”
Sequim
The Wolves offer a different look than most teams, employing more of a pitching platoon with McKenzie Bentz, Olivia Kirsch and Allysen Montelius all starting this season.
Bentz, though, is typically the first choice, as she was last weekend when she pitched 20 innings and took the mound in three of the team’s four district games.
Sequim coach Mike McFarlane likes the approach as it can keep the opposition guessing.
“Picking a pitcher, it’s more of a gut feeling,” McFarlane said.
“It depends on who is feeling better and looking better in practice.”
When Bentz is on for the Wolves, she is in command of her control and accuracy.
“When she’s going strong, she hits her spots really well and her drop ball is falling,” McFarlane said.
Bentz played catcher while her sister Makayla pitched last season and also handles catching duties when Kirsch or Montelius pitch this season.
Being part of the battery has been a boon for Bentz.
“I think it helps her know where she wants to locate a pitch and helps set up the spot and see where a batter is at,” McFarlane said.
Bentz, Kirsch and Montelius have been getting their throwing in all season.
“They pitch a lot of live BP [batting practice] in practice and a lot of bullpen sessions with me, McFarlane said.
“They get their work in.”
Hydration has been a focus before state.
“The girls have been drinking water for the last two to three days, and we will just bear with it and try to get through it,” McFarlane said of the heat.
Chimacum
Cowboys coach Junior Roberts has praised junior pitcher Ryley Eldridge all season long.
Eldridge has certainly come through in the clutch for Chimacum, especially late in the season.
She tossed a no-hitter in the team’s de facto 1A Olympic League championship game win against Klahowya, and belted a grand slam to give herself some breathing room in a state-clinching win at districts against Bellevue Christian.
“Ryley really is a special player for us,” Roberts said.
“She’s kept us in games with her arm, with her bat, or with both in the same game.”
Eldridge has had some relief when freshman Bradyn Nelson comes on in relief.
“Bradyn has done real well for us in spots. She can eat up innings for us when we need her to, and that helps Ryley stay rested,” Roberts said.
Quilcene
The Rangers play in the eight-team 1B bracket, which allows for two games per day, so the strain on Quilcene ace Sammy Rae may not be as pronounced.
Still, Rae, a senior making her fourth trip to state, has been the driving force behind the Rangers’ 17-1 record.
Rae has tossed three of her 11 career no-hitters this season and swings a big bat as Quilcene’s cleanup hitter.
Coach Mark Thompson has used junior Megan Weller as the second pitcher in doubleheader contests this year, and Weller threw a no-hitter against Rainer Christian.
The Rangers may need to use Weller at state to give Rae a rest, as Quilcene wears all-black uniforms, not ideal outfits for temperatures in the 90s.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
