This was the kind of win Klahowya needed.
After all, it’s not everyday you get a rematch with the defending state champs.
The Eagles fastpitch team held on to a 6-5 home win Friday against Kingston that not only improved the squad to 10-5 overall (9-3 in Olympic League play), but moved the Eagles within a game of first place North Mason.
The Bulldogs (11-3, 10-2) lead both the 2As and the Oly League outright after winning the class 2A state title a year ago. And after the Bulldogs beat Klahowya 4-0 on April 8, Klahowya coach Holly Carver and her crew are eager for tomorrow’s rematch, set for 4 p.m. at KSS.
“It’s very important,” Carver said of the Kingston win. “The North Mason game is very important to us. And just the winning, just to keep (momentum) going (is important).”
The Eagles and Bucs (9-7, 4-7) went back and forth in the game despite Klahowya outhitting Kingston 14 to six. Kazandra Holliday was solid on the mound again, helping her own cause with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate.
“She has been unbelievable every single game,” Carver said. “If we lost a game, it was because of errors, not because of her.”
Kelsey Kobloth drove three runs in and Jocylynn Meadows added two more for Klahowya.
“We’re doing pretty good,” Carver said.
With a playoff berth locked up, the focus is on taking down North Mason and earning a share of the league crown. Not bad for a team with a first-year coach that graduated it’s top offensive player from a year ago in Indiana’s Brittany Devitt.
“I’m having a great time,” Carver said. “I’m not complaining one bit at all. We all get along great.”
Now it’s just trying to get the proverbial gorilla — or Bulldog, in this case — off their collective backs.
“I think our problem was last time we didn’t get any hits,” Carver said. “I’m 100 percent confident we can hit Stanley. We have the bats.”
Olympic
The Trojans improved to 9-5 overall (9-4 in league play) with a 6-0 win against Port Townsend Friday.
Kelsey Strickland fired a no-hitter for Olympic as the Trojans remain in the 3A title hunt against Port Angeles (9-3, 8-3). Offensively, the Trojans scored five runs in the first two innings to back Strickland, who struck out 11 while walking just two. Olympic hosts Bremerton at 4 p.m. today.
Central Kitsap
The Cougars (11-4, 10-3) were at the wrong end of a shutout against Stadium, falling 10-0 to the undefeated Tigers (13-0, 13-0).
CK remains in the No. 2 spot in the Narrows League’s Bay Division as NL tourney play nears.
The Cougars travel to Olympic tonight before league tourney play begins on May 7.
