Highline High School opened its 2013 fast pitch softball season with a non league 13-2 win against the Roosevelt Roughriders on Monday, March 18, at Moshier Park after participating in a weekend jamboree at Mount Rainier High School.
It was a 10-run first inning that was sufficient enough to settle the issue against a hard trying but over matched Metro League opponent. Highline had 15 at bats in the inning that was interspersed with some good hitting and Roosevelt mistakes. In two at bats, Mikki Haury slammed a double plus a single for three runs batted in. Hope McElwain doubled for an RBI while Nicole Jacobson and Jenny Hovland also plated one runner each among the scoring highlights.
The Pirates spent the rest of the game working on some skills and techniques while the Roughriders kept at it until they were able to score a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Before that, the Pirates had amassed a 13-0 margin and the match up ended on the 10-run mercy rule.
First year head coach Rod Pierce was pleased to inherit an excellent blend of experience and youth in a team that reached West Central bi-district last season. Among his previous coaching experiences, Pierce has three years of Class 3A softball head coaching and two years as infield and hitting coach at Seattle University.
"Today was a learning experience and I could see the quality of the players," he said. "Our top three pitchers also play the infield. They're all good athletes and like each other."
With pitching always being a huge element for success in fast pitch softball, Highline is armed to the teeth with starting mound masters. Taylor Gower, Haury and sophomore Jacobson form a formidable trio with freshman Hovland adding even more depth to the rotation.
After last season, returning players Jacobson and Haury are primed to make the quantum leap past the SPSL 3A/Seamount League sub-district with their teammates and join the field at district and state.
"We want to go to state," said Haury. "Our team has all the pieces and we work well together."
Today's winning pitcher in a complete game effort was Jacobson who was even more emphatic about reaching the upper tier at state.
"It's time to pass by district and get to state," she said. "I'd like to be a champion. So many people have been working hard to get to the next level."
On hand for this game were Pirate rostered players Sierra Flanagan, Hope McElwain, Mikki Haury, Taylor Gower, Nicole Jacobson, Tori Cline, Jenny Hovland, Elle Harris, Yadira Avendano, Micaelah Lee, Jordan Sharp and Jonnica Royal.
