Big bats, fleet feet for Mount Si softball

The Lady Wildcats handled Lake Washington at home Thursday, March 24, with help from big bats and fast runners.

The 10-5 win followed a Tuesday, March 22, loss to Liberty, 12-3, and a Wednesday, March 23, win over Inglemoor, 8-6, in a non-league match-up.

"Winning can be contagious," Coach Larry White told the Record. "We're hitting the ball really well. We clean up our defense, we're going to be pretty competitive."

Freshmen batters Celine Fowler, Rachel Picchena, Nikki Carroll and Jenny Carroll accounted for six of Mount Si's ten runs batted in.

While junior pitcher Kendra Lee kept batters off balance for much of the game, freshman Lauren Padilla relieved her in the sixth and seventh, allowing one run.

Sophomore Lauren Smith went three for four with two doubles and two RBIs, while senior Kassidy Maddux went three for three at the plate and had two runs.

Jenny Carroll had one double and three RBIs, while Tammara Crowe went two for three at the plate. Senior Danielle Massengill had a triple, two runs and one RBI.

White said his freshmen are making an impression at the plate.

"They don't waste their bats," he said.

Likewise, players including Fowler, Massengill and Maddux have been fast on their feet.

"If they get on base, they are big threats," White said.

Massengill, who got an impressive steal against Inglemoor, has been impressed by the younger crop of Wildcats.

"I'm not going to steal a base if we've got some of our freshmen out there," she said. "They can flat swing."

The team has progressed in the early season. Younger players have learned a lot about their opponents and the varsity game.

"They're stepping into high school ball, playing against 18-year-olds," Massengill said.

To White, the Lake Washington Kangaroos, new to the Kingco 3A league this year, are a young but gutsy team.

"They didn't roll over," he said.

With a 3-2 record, Mount Si fastpitch visits Interlake on Monday, March 28, Sammamish on Tuesday, March 29, and hosts Mercer Island on Thursday, March 31.

Contact Snoqualmie Valley Record Editor Seth Truscott at editor@valleyrecord.com or 1-425-888-2311.

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