The Mount Si Wildcat fastpitch softball team continues to win as they swept their opponents last week.
Last Monday, the Wildcats made the long hike to Liberty’s field in Renton and left with another dramatic win. Sophomore Kyleen Sweepe, in the seventh inning with the game on the line, amazed the fans with her bat, hitting a double to score Kali Walker and Melissa Webster, tying the game at 2-2.
Then in the tenth, Mount Si’s senior pitcher Kandis Clesson took the game into her own hands and hit a single, scoring Walker. She then did what she does best: slammed the door on the opposition and the Wildcats bagged a big 3-2 victory. Clesson only gave up three hits in a complete game victory and is hitting over .300 this season.
Last Wednesday against Interlake the Wildcats made quick work of the Saints, winning 10-0 in five innings; the game was called early due to the mercy rule. The Saints only have 13 players on their entire roster and 11 of those were at the game against Mount Si.
“We talked about this early in the year as a team. There’s certain games that you just circle on the schedule and you go, OK. That’s when we have to go like with your lunch pail in hand and take care of business, and the girls did,” said Wildcat coach Larry White.
The game provided an opportunity for a lot of young reserve players to get quality experience and they delivered. Chief among those was Rachel Nyberg. The freshman doubled in the bottom of the fifth, with one out and hit, her first one at the high school varsity level, allowed the 10th Mount Si run to score, ending the contest. “Well, my first time at bat, I struck out, but I wanted to come back and get revenge, so I came back and saw my pitch and just drove on it,” said Nyberg.
Another freshman who enjoyed her time on varsity was Cortney Tubbs. Tubbs, brought up from junior varsity for the contest, went 0-1, but was glad to be a part of the team. “It was a blast. I love the varsity team. It just flows naturally; they all know what they’re doing. They’re all here for the same reason: to have fun, play hard and get things done, like we did today at the game and it was just so much fun because these girls are just so great,” Tubbs said.
Nyberg also liked getting the varsity playing time. “It’s really good experience, especially for next year, and hopefully going up during the playoffs, so that way we can be ahead in the game, instead of learning what we are doing during the playoffs,” she said.
Clesson struck out nine in three innings of work; the lone blip on her performance was a first-inning triple by the Saint’ Katy Kirschner. Tracey Barclay finished things off, pitching two innings of no-hit ball, striking out three.
Tubbs can’t wait to play with varsity again. “Of course, I’m ready for more,” she said.
Mount Si played twice earlier in the week. Results of those games will be in next weeks Valley Record.
They will not play again until next Monday, when they go to Mercer Island. The Islanders are currently near the bottom of Kingco 3A. With a new varsity coach, Lacey Smale, MI has a chance within two or three years potentially to be on the conference map. The Wildcats come home next Wednesday and open the second half of the schedule with a rematch against Bellevue at home. First pitch for both games is at 4 p.m.
