The Tornados fastpitch team displayed its resiliency against the Timberline Blazers on Thursday, March 30, as they defeated their rivals 8-5, despite trailing 5-0 as they entered the sixth inning.
Before the game against Timberline, the Tornados were faced with two tough matchups against Gig Harbor and Peninsula. Yelm lost 7-4 against the Tides on Monday, March 27, and was shutout 10-0 against the Seahawks on Tuesday, March 28.
In Yelm’s best showing of the week, Madisyn Erickson was the starting pitcher against Timberline. She squared off against Blazers’ pitcher Jasmyn Polanco.
Timberline scored four runs on RBIs from Polanco, Sophia Wiggs, Hazel Abbott and Ava Wilson in the second inning, extending the team’s lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning.
Offense remained bleak for the Tornados until the sixth inning, when Austin Hitchner got Yelm’s offense going by getting on base after she was hit by a pitch. After fighting back to a one run deficit, Hitchner batted again and singled, scoring two runs for Yelm to take the lead with a score of 6-5. The Tornados scored two more runs in the inning to extend its lead to 8-5.
“We needed a big win heading into spring break and that’s what we made happen,” Yelm Head Coach Lindsey Walton said. “We are hopeful that this win will be the momentum boost that we need as we near the midpoint of our season. The girls rallied coming in off the field in the bottom of the fifth inning. They were insistent that this was the inning to make something happen.”
Walton said spirits were high in the dugout during the sixth inning.
“Austin Hitchner’s steal and Carley Waite’s base hit bunt were what increased the excitement not only from the team, but the fans as well,” Walton said. “Timely hits, disciplined at bats, and aggressive baserunning were the keys to our success that inning.”
Erickson was credited with the win for the Tornados, as she struck out six batters across seven innings. She allowed four hits and five runs in the contest.
The Tornados collected eight hits as a team against Timberline, including multi-hit games from Kylie Minker and Elissa Dewees. They each managed two hits in the contest, which ultimately led Yelm to its victory.
Earlier in the week against Gig Harbor, Mallory Hoke started on the mound for the Tornados.
The Tornados jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first inning after Miranda Hunt grounded out, but scored a runner. The Tides tied the game in the fifth inning when Graci Carey hit a solo home run and tied the game at 2-2.
The Tides later scored five combined runs in the sixth and seventh inning. Gig Harbor’s offensive production in those innings was led by Izzy Harris and Riley Peschek, who each collected RBIs for their team.
Yelm was able to score two runs in the final two innings, but collected the loss with a 7-4 score. The Tornados collected eight hits against Gig Harbor, including multiple hits from Erickson and Morgan Schackel.
Against Peninsula, the Tornados were shut out 10-0. The team allowed 11 hits and Peninsula didn’t commit a single error in the field.
Dewees led the Tornados at the plate, going 3 for 3 in the outing.
“Coming off of spring break, pitchers need to continue to keep their pitch count down and hit their spots. Defensively we need to clean it up and have less errors to support our pitchers,” Walton said. “Offensively, we need to find a way to score anytime we have base runners in scoring position. We have stranded way too many runners this week. That would’ve changed the outcome of the game if we were to even score a quarter of the runners stranded.”
Following spring break, Yelm is set to play North Thurston on Monday, April 10. They will then play the Capital Cougars on Tuesday, April 11, followed by a home game against Central Kitsap on April 13 and a game against the River Ridge Hawks on April 17.
