Teamwork. The North Kitsap Vikings fastpitchers were the epitome of a unit and it showed mightily during the 2007 campaign. The Vikings finished with an overall record of 15-6 and advanced to the West Central District Tournament in Tacoma.

But every great team has its leaders and the trio of Jenneke Oostman, Jordan Jewett and Josie Ball were just that as each earned AKC first-team honors at their respective positions.

Sophomore Oostman’s dynamic fastball stifled opponents at the plate all season long.

Oostman finished the regular season with a stellar overall record of 10-1 in the circle. But perhaps her biggest victory of the season came against Wilson in North’s only win of the district playoffs.

“It was the first time we have beat Wilson in a long time,” Vikings coach Bill Hobaugh said. “Jenneke probably pitched her best game of the season. She kept their hitters off balance the whole game and pitched a complete game.”

Center-fielder Jewett and first baseman Ball were both excellent defensively, but more importantly they were the glue that held North’s batting lineup together throughout the 2007 campaign. Jewett’s ability to make contact on nearly every at bat along with Ball’s consistency paid off in the form of numerous victories for the Vikings throughout 2007.

The All-Kitsap County teams are compiled by the sports writers for the Bainbridge Island Review, the Bremerton Patriot, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the North Kitsap Herald and the Port Orchard Independent. Candidates for the team are nominated by the writers for their respective areas. The nominees are then voted on by the writers, with the top vote-getters making the teams. Two honorable mentions are selected from each school for each sport. The teams include the best players from area schools that not only performed well individually, but played a role in the success of their team as well.

Below is the All-Kitsap County Softball Team.

P – Erika Quint, Central Kitsap – While every player faces some sort of adversity during the season, Quint, a senior, pitched through something no high schooler should have to go through: the death of her father. Quint went 7-2 for CK, striking out 85 in 58 innings while posting a 1.08 ERA, pitching in the Narrows League championship a week after her father’s death. Quint was the heart of the Cougars’ senior core, leading the team back to state for the first time since 2000 after two years of heart-breaking district losses. Quint was also strong at the plate, hitting .456 with 26 RBIs and seven doubles, scoring 15 runs.

P – Jenneke Oostman, North Kitsap – Oostman was one of the premier pitchers in the Narrows League. She finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-1 in the circle for the Vikings. Oostman was North’s workhorse, finishing 2007 with team-high 67 innings pitched for her squad. Oostman displayed incredible poise for a sophomore and was responsible for striking out 60 batters in the regular season.

P – Carolyn Cross, Central Kitsap – Cross was the perfect complement to Quint for CK, both pitching and at the plate. On the mound, Cross, a sophomore, went a perfect 7-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 37 strike outs in 34 innings. At the plate, Cross swung a .417 clip, driving in 11 while scoring 19 times herself. With Quint graduating, Cross will have to shoulder the load, literally, next season.

P – Kazandra Holliday, Klahowya – Holliday was the textbook workhorse for the Klahowya softball team, pitching 106 innings this season to lead the Eagles within one win of state. A sophomore, it was already Holliday’s second season as Klahowya’s premier pitcher, striking out 114 batters in that span. Holliday was dangerous at the plate, too, scoring 25 runs and driving in 13 with a .475 average that included nine doubles.

P – Haylee Baker, Bainbridge – This freshman continued in the footsteps of last year’s talented freshmen with a breakout year in the circle, going 7-5 with one save, a 1.32 ERA and 92 strikeouts versus 18 walks in 74 1/3 innings. She also contributed in the field (four errors in 27 games) and at the plate with a line of a .429 batting average, a .500 on-base percentage and a .670 slugging percentage with four home runs, 22 RBIs and eight doubles.

C – Caty Lieseke, South Kitsap – Catchers usually are counted on for bottom of the batting order production, but Lieseke is the exception. She generally hit third for the Wolves and finished with a .474 batting average, two home runs and 14 RBI. She also had three doubles, three triples and a .649 on-base percentage.

Lieseke, who didn’t strikeout as a senior and only twice as a junior, started for the Wolves since her sophomore season and never missed a game. She will play at Whitworth College in Spokane next season.

1B – Josie Ball, North Kitsap – Ball was the undisputed senior leader of the Vikings in 2007. Ball was a brick wall at first base, digging out balls in the dirt at the bag on a regular basis. As good as she was defensively, she was even better at the plate putting forth a .449 batting average and racking up 22 hits for North.

2B – Chelsea Kakela, Bainbridge – This sophomore had a big year at the plate, mashing the ball to every corner of the field and posting a line of .420/.475/.784 with six home runs, 33 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples, 33 runs and 69 total bases. She’ll be part of a talented returning core to help lead the Spartans back to state.

SS – Brittany Devitt, Klahowya – It was easy to see once again why as a senior Devitt was so heavily recruited. Devitt, bound for Indiana, hit an astronomical .564 average with 26 runs and 17 RBIs, blasting three homers in the process. She was also a defensive standout, making a number of great plays with both her ability to read the ball off the bat and with her cannon of an arm.

3B – Lexi Orteza, Olympic – Orteza was an infield bright spot for the Trojans, hitting .345 with 21 runs and 8 RBIs for Olympic, starting all 16 games. Patient at the plate, Orteza struck out just 8 times in 58 at bats and should help a young Trojan squad continue to improve.

OF – Kelsey Anchors, Olympic – One of the best outfielders in the county, Anchors, a junior, has been a highly sought after recruit, in part thanks to her .558 average to go along with 19 runs and 12 RBIs this season. Anchors slugged two homers for Oly while speeding around the bases for five triples. Her defense was also strong for Oly, as Anchors manned center more than adequately all season long.

OF – Jordan Jewett, North Kitsap – Jewett’s ability to make contact with the ball was evident to every player, coach and opponent this year. When it was all said and done, Jewett had the highest batting average on the team (.520) and had the most hits (26) on North’s roster as well. Jewett’s sensational speed in centerfield anchored the stellar Viking defense behind pitchers Kendal Peiguss and Oostman.

OF – Natalie Peapea, South Kitsap – Ballew inserted Peapea into the leadoff spot to utilize her speed, but found out she was a multi-talented player. Peapea, who hit .426 with a pair of home runs and 17 RBIs along with six doubles and three triples, also was a defensive standout in center field for the Wolves. She will play next season at Olympic College.

UTL – Brittney Romano, Central Kitsap – CK’s center fielder, Romano was one of the grittiest outfielders in the county, never fearing a dive or leap if it meant helping CK. She also played through severe hip pain that required surgery this offseason. But it didn’t keep her from hitting .467 with a team-high four homers, 26 runs and 14 RBIs.

UTL – Kendall Sours, Central Kitsap – Arguably the best defensive shortstop in the county, Sours too parlayed an outstanding high school career into a college scholarship, signing to play next season for Central Connecticut State. With a smooth glove and wide range up the middle, Sours combined with second baseman Karli Baumgartner to turn many a double play for CK this season. At the plate, Sours was solid, batting .490 with a team-high 28 runs, driving 9 in. She also ripped four doubles and had a .690 on-base percentage.

Coach of the Year – Liz McCloskey, Bainbridge – A former player for the Spartan softball team from 1996-1999, she led a young 2007 team to 19-9 record, a tie for second place in the Metro League Mountain Division, a third-place finish in the Metro League tournament, a fourth-place finish at districts and the team’s first trip to state since 2002 — all in just her third year as coach. There, the team earned its first win since the school played slowpitch softball in 1989. She was also selected as the coach of the South All-Stars for the KCBAR/Benik Corporation fastpitch showcase.

Honorable mentions:

P – Lindsay Willmann, Bainbridge

P/SS – Kendal Peiguss, North Kitsap – Peiguss was a consistent force in the pitching circle, unveiling a 1.20 ERA in the regular season, the best ERA on the team. In addition, she also was an outstanding defensive shortstop and finished the regular season with a .346 batting average.

2B – Karli Baumgartner,

Central Kitsap

P/IF – Rachel Haas,

Olympic

IF – Meika Bumbalough,

Klahowya

IF – Brandy Ball,

South Kitsap

SS – Cara Thompson,

Bainbridge

C – Hannah McCluskey,

North Kitsap – McCluskey was essentially the quarterback of the Vikings defense from her catcher position. Offensively, she batted cleanup for much the season, compiling a total of 14 RBIs.

C – Amy Renfrow,

Central Kitsap

UTL – Sarah Varady, Olympic

C – Jocylynn Meadows, Klahowya

SS – Ally Johnson, South Kitsap