Tired Trojans fall to Tides

Gig Harbor made two first-inning runs stand up as the Tides picked up a 2-0 Narrows League Bridge Division fastpitch victory over a flat Olympic High team on Monday, March 25 at the Fairgrounds.

“We’re struggling mentally,” Olympic coach Robin Campbell said. “It’s like other teams come in thinking they can win and we come in hoping we’re going to win.

“Once they start feeling they’re talented enough, I think things will improve. I definitely think they are (talented enough).”

The Tides jumped on pitcher Lauren Haas early, but the Olympic sophomore settled into a groove and got better as the game went along.

“Once she loosened up, I thought she threw extremely well,” Campbell said.

Haas and four of her teammates had played in various select tournaments over the weekend.

“She’s a trooper,” Campbell said. “She won’t tell you she’s tired.”

But Campbell knows better. He remembers what it was like playing in a weekend tournament and trying to get recapture the intensity for a league game the following day.

“You’re tired and worn out,” Campbell said. “It’s hard to get up again. Sometimes you don’t even feel like playing.”

Haas and Sarah Pedroza, who was sick and didn’t play Monday, were in Snohomish over the weekend, playing for the Sidewinders U-18 team.

Third baseman Celeste Kajiyama and first baseman Nicole Strickland were playing for the U-18 Diamond Dusters and shortstop Hope Hillman was in Tacoma with the U-16 Diamond Dusters.

Campbell’s not going to tell his players they can’t play for select teams during the season.

“I’m very supportive of select teams,” Campbell said. “It does nothing but help us in the long run. But we need to work together to make sure we don’t over-use them.”

Gig Harbor pitcher Anna Moergli held the Trojans to two hits.

“She’s very good, but there’s better in the league,” Campbell said. “I just thought we looked tired.”

Olympic dropped to 0-2 in league, 1-3 overall. Gig Harbor’s 1-0 in league, 2-1 overall.

Cougs unbeaten, unscored upon

Central Kitsap has yet to be scored upon in five games. The Cougars (2-0 Narrows League, 5-0 overall) beat North Kitsap 2-0 on Friday, March 23 at Linder Field and topped Port Angeles by the same score on Monday, March 25 in PA.

Jackie Miller provided the timely hit in both games. Miller’s two-run home run in the first inning accounted for all of the scoring against North.

And against Port Angeles, Miller’s two-run double broke open a scoreless game in the top of the seventh. Miller and Cara Welling were both 2-for-4 against Port Angeles.

Jackie Quint struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter while pitching the shutout in PA. Against North, Sheena Stangler and Quint combined for the shutout, with Quint striking out four of the seven batters she faced. Stangler had two of CK’s seven hits against North.

Other Games

Monday, March 25

At Klahowya 8, Bremerton 3 — The Eagles improved to 3-0 as pitcher Kaitlyn Henning struck out 12 and allowed just one hit. Catcher Karen Sjostrom, Rachel Fletcher and Britini Hintz had two hits apiece for Klahowya. Henning helped her own cause by driving in three runs.

Friday, March 23

Port Angeles 5, at Olympic 3 — PA only hit one ball out of the infield in the fourth inning, but took advantage of two walks and Olympic’s only error to score four runs. Nicole Strickland, who hit a two-run homer in the third inning, and losing pitcher Lauren Haas were both 2-for-4.

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