Wildcats return to state with no-hit win

Published 8:37 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

TUKWILA – Just six weeks ago the Mount Si High School softball team was mired in a difficult season, seemingly treading water just to keep afloat rather than focused on a state tournament berth.

Last week the team did what appeared impossible just a month ago when it sealed a state tournament appearance with a no-hit victory against the Bishop Blanchet Braves.

Sophomore star pitcher Kandis Clesson threw an incredible game last Saturday and with the help of her infield defense, wrapped up a 3-0 victory in an all-or-nothing game at the SeaKing District Tournament at Fort Dent Park in Tukwila. This is the second year in a row the lady Wildcats have qualified for the state tournament.

“It’s been a tough season, we’ve had some real challenges, and the girls came out and played today. I had a feeling [with] Kandis coming out [and] I looked at her [and] I said, ‘You’re going to throw a no-hitter against these girls,'” said Mount Si coach Larry White.

And White’s prediction held true. Not a single ball left the infield, and Clesson was just one fifth-inning walk short of perfection.

“It was great. I had a lot of defense behind me and I know everybody really wanted to go to state so we were playing our best,” said Clesson, who keyed the main offensive rally for the Wildcats in the first inning, with a two-out double that just landed fair down the left field line.

Clesson and Ashley Svarthumle then scored on a single by the next Mount Si hitter, second baseman Kayla Jayne, who started six infield putouts defensively. That double was big for Clesson.

“It felt really good. I really needed that, and I think it got the team going, too. They started hitting really well and jumped on them right away, so it was great,” the sophomore said.

The Wildcats mounted rallies in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh, only scoring one run the rest of the way. Despite the lack of runs, Clesson’s arm proved to be the defining factor, and now it’s on to Tacoma for the state tournament.

Mount Si won twice Friday to set up Saturday’s classic. In game one, the Wildcats got a three-hitter from Clesson, as they defeated West Seattle 5-2.

Shortstop Amy Trenkamp and first baseman Katie Morgan each scored twice to lead the Wildcats’ rally, and Clesson, at the plate, collected two hits, as Mount Si ended the season of the Metro League’s Sound Division champions.

In game two, the Wildcats suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Skyline Spartans. Two critical errors cost the Wildcats three runs and likely the game.

In the nightcap, the Wildcats kept their season alive with a 7-0 drubbing of the Bainbridge Island Spartans in a loser-out game. A four-run third inning, with Mount Si up 2-0 to start the frame, clinched the victory. Clesson pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10 Spartans as the Wildcats sent Bainbridge home on the ferry for the last time this season. Jayne went 3-3 with a double, two singles and three runs scored, to lead Mount Si.

Another newcomer to the team had a special moment, as sophomore Sophie Hart collected her first-ever varsity hit in the fourth.

“Well, I was nervous at first. I mean, I didn’t know how I was going to hit it or accomplish it, but I just did what the coach [White] told me, and went out there and hit the ball,” Hart said.

Following their state-clincher game Saturday, the Wildcats went out and took an entire season of frustration out on another hapless Metro opponent, as Mount Si blew out Holy Names 9-1. Clesson fired a one-hitter at the Cougars, as the Wildcats picked up the No. 3 SeaKing district seed to the state tourney. In doing so, Mount Si once again blew out Holy Names for the second straight year at the district tourney; last season, Mount Si waxed the Cougars 14-0 in a five inning game called due to the mercy rule. That win clinched Mount Si’s state berth in 2003.

Mount Si will open the state tournament Friday at 11 a.m. at the South End Recreation Area in Tacoma. Admission is $6.