Save for the blue jerseys and Knight logo, little about this Bremerton fastpitch team resembles the Lady Knights of the past.
Equipped with a new coach and six underclassmen in the varsity lineup, including freshman pitcher Rachel Pratt, who is emerging as a reliable arm despite having no previous high school experience, the new-look Lady Knights are showing signs of life through four games in 2009.
A 7-0 loss at home Tuesday against North Mason dropped BHS to 1-3 overall, but first-year coach Mike Chase said he’s been pleased with his team’s performance — and effort — early this season.
“Better than expected,” Chase said, referring to his first year at the helm. “We’ve had to make some adjustments mentally, our mental approach to practices and the games, but overall the kids are working hard everyday.”
Pratt went the distance against North Mason, allowing two earned runs and eight hits over seven innings. The Lady Bulldogs (5-0) capitalized on three BHS errors to plate five unearned runs.
“Other than that, we played pretty solid, we were getting the outs we needed to make,” Chase said. “Just a few mistakes here and there … They took advantage of our mistakes.”
North Mason pitcher Emily Anderson struck out 16 batters, walking none, to shut down BHS’ offense. The Lady Knights managed just one hit, a Katie Sawyer single. Sawyer was 1-for-2 with two stolen bases.
“We didn’t hit very well, but Emily’s a pretty darn good pitcher, too,” Chase said. “She keeps you off balance, she’s a very solid pitcher.”
Chase said his team’s confidence is continuing to grow, despite the loss. In fact, BHS recently snapped a 64-game losing streak, dating back to 2005, with a 16-3 victory against Port Townsend March 28.
“That was one of my goals this year — to change their confidence and attitude toward how they approach the games,” Chase said. “Our confidence is there. I just told the girls, ‘We’ve got to clean up our little mistakes and we can play.’”
For Pratt, the transition from junior high to high school ball has been relatively smooth. She said Tuesday the speed of the game in high school is much faster than junior high, and the hitting and fielding is better, but she’s still confident on the mound.
“It’s a lot different,” she said. “Last year, I was probably one of the faster pitchers, but now I’m not anymore … The hits are a lot farther and the fielders are better.”
Pratt continues to develop a repertoire of pitches, learning to mix in off-speed pitches with her fastball. Chase said the fact that she allowed just two earned runs against North Mason, which advanced to the state tournament last season, is evidence of her ability on the mound.
“She had four or five unearned runs scored against her, so, really, it could have been a two-run game,” he said. “She has a good work ethic … She’s a battler, she’s a gamer.”
Among the Lady Knights’ top contributors along with Pratt are seniors Kayla Abernathy-Rose, who plays first base, and Alma Magday, a catcher and shortstop. However, Chase said he likes his team top to bottom.
“It’s great; they’re hard workers, they’ve got great attitudes,” he said. “They come to practice and work every day, trying to learn. That’s the whole idea, trying to get them to learn the game.”
BHS’ next scheduled game is at home against North Kitsap at 4 p.m. Monday. Chase said the team might play a makeup game today, but he couldn’t confirm.
