SHS FASTPITCH: Spartans claim their stake at district tourney

Published 4:08 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011

After starting its South Puget Sound League 2A regular season with an 0-5 mark, Sumner High’s fastpitch crew stormed back to finish third in the league with a 9-5 record, thus earning a berth in Friday’s Class 2A subdistrict tournament at Enumclaw’s Boise Creek Sixplex.

Sumner did not appear to be overly vigilant of its postseason surroundings, as it sustained a sizable setback to Port Angeles, but then shook off the alarming defeat and rallied back to win big in the clutch.

The Spartans will be moving on to Sprinker Recreation Center at noon Friday to tussle with North Mason in the first round of the West Central District fastpitch tournament.

In last week’s subdistrict action, Sumner first faced a surprising Port Angeles Roughrider squad, which ran roughshod as it stampeded over the fallen SHS banner, blanking the stunned Spartans 10-0.

A few hours later, Sumner truly turned the tide, atoning for its lackluster morning performance, when it came out swinging against Kingston, eventually making the Lady Buccaneers walk the plank as SHS prevailed 11-1 in six innings.

In this second contest of the day, freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Shearer went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, registering nearly one-third of Sumner’s 13 hits.

The more experienced threesome of Dani Babcock, Angie Sanchez and Megan Anderson combined to generate five more hits and five runs batted in, but the Spartans also benefitted from Kingston’s nine miscues on the diamond.

Formidable Sumner sophomore hurler Allie Sims dug deep to give up only four hits to KHS. Sims also fanned a half dozen batters on the day, walking only one.