POULSBO — In the first of two battles between South Kitsap and North Kitsap fastpitch teams Monday, the game was won in 15 seconds.
That was the time it took for Viking senior Jamie Heins to belt the ball to deep center field for a triple, score Brenda Stice and score herself on a throwing error.
And given the strength of the two pitching staffs — both teams giving up only a combined eight hits on the day — that was all the scoring that would be done.
North’s Heather Case went the distance, pitching a complete game shut-out and only giving up three hits along the way. South’s Brittany Miller and Amanda Galla pitched three innings apiece, giving up only five hits.
But North Kitsap would get the ones that counted.
“We were facing a quality pitching staff,” said Vikings fastpitch coach Dan Kolda. “But our girls weren’t intimidated at all.”
The only scoring on the day occurred in the second inning, starting with a single to shallow left field by Stice. That brought Heins to the plate.
The Vikings’ senior first baseman had let a throw to first escape her glove in the top of the second inning. North extinguished the possibility of any runs scoring, but Heins felt some payback was needed.
“I had to redeem myself,” she commented. “It was the first pitch and I just went with it.”
If North Kitsap field had a fence, Heins ball would have easily cleared the center-field portion. A throwing error to third by the Wolves would score Heins on the same play.
The runs were the first South Kitsap had given up on the season. Both teams had enjoyed 3-0 records going into the game, and Kolda said he believes NK and SK to be the teams to beat in the Narrows.
For now, North has the upper hand, Kolda added.
“Looking at everybody in the league, North and South were definitely volleying for the top spot,” he said. “(This win) makes us real hard to beat, but now we’ve got a bull’s eye on us.”
SK coach Kathy Ballew said her team is already eagerly anticipating a re-match, when North visits Port Orchard April 26.
“The girls are excited to see what happens when North comes to our house,” Ballew said. “It’s going to be a tough league — it’s anyone’s ballgame.”
North’s catcher Lisa Gilbert said she believes the win puts more weight on the shoulders of the Vikings to continue to dominate during games.
“We have to come intense every game now — we can’t beat ourselves,” Gilbert said.
Nonetheless, this year’s Vikings no doubt like their chances for success, Kolda commented.
“I’m coaching the most mature group of girls I’ve ever coached,” he said. “And we’re looking at possibly a very historic season.”
