Wolverine softball team completes record season

SPORTS | FRIDAY HARBOR | WOLVERINE SOFTBALL

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COVERAGE OF STATE TOURNEY

FULL STORY: Wolverine softball team completes record season

Photos from the State Tournament at Moses Lake May 30-31, 2003

Photos of Brewster game

First page of photos of Cle Elum game

Second page of photos of Cle Elum game

Photos of Okanogan game

Coverage of previous years

Wolverine softball team completes record season

Story by Matt Pranger
Photos by Matt Pranger and Sharon Kivisto

posted 06/01/03
Friday Harbor's softball team finished its second-best season in school history at the Class A Softball Tournament in Moses Lake Saturday. The Wolverines recovered from a rough opening-round loss to rally for a win in the first-round of the consolation bracket and were eliminated in a tight contest on the second day of play.

"These are the greatest kids," said Friday Harbor coach Kevin Carlton. He credited the girls parents and outgoing Friday Harbor Activities Director Cal Johnson. "Cal is by far the best A.D. I've ever been associated with," Carlton said.

Carlton, who earned a sportsmanship medal for his extra fair play in one of the games, also commended the Wolverine fans. He noted they were supported and never criticized his team. "We have the best fans in the whole damn place," the coach said.

Carlton especially thanked seniors -- his daughter Sissy, a pitcher and leftfielder and rightfielder Kelsea Peterman -- for their leadership.

"Kelsea had a great tourney," he noted. "She hit the ball really well. She fielded her position well."

The father-coach beamed with pride while hugging his daughter after the Wolverines second-game victory. She rebounded from a disheartening start in the first game to turn in a clutch defensive and offensive performance in the Wolverines victory. "She played a great game," Carlton said.

The Wolverines, the Northwest A League second-place team and fourth-place Tri-District Tournament squad, finished the season 18-8. Only the state runner-up team in 2001 went farther in the post-season.

"Coming here as a freshman is a big honor," said freshman catcher Natalie Chevalier. "To play on a team like this is a lot of fun."

Brewster, who advanced to the consolation semifinals, took advantage of jittery Friday Harbor. The Bears won 15-1 in five innings. Friday Harbor's Brandie Miller smacked a double, advanced on a fielder's choice and scored on Megan Vynne's single.

"Brewster hit the ball hard and we didn't field it. They smashed the ball," Carlton said. "You definitely have to take your hats off to them."

The Wolverines weren't nervous in their second outing but their fans definitely were in the 8-7 thriller over Cle Elum. Friday Harbor went ahead, then trailed but rallied four runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Friday seniors -- Sissy Carlton and Kelsea Peterman -- made crucial contributions and all the Wolverine infield played stellar defense in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the win.

"Like I said all year: This team doesn't quit," Carlton told his team after the victory. "I'm so proud of you girls. You battled back."

"I'm so glad for my girls. After that first game, to go up and then have them come back.... I'm just so happy for my girls, especially my seniors."

"I'm beside myself. I'm speechless," said senior Sissy Carlton after the hugs and kisses subsided.

Carlton rebounded from the opening game loss and pitched outstanding in relief of Beth Kelsey, who left the game after one inning with a pinched nerve in her neck. Carlton allowed four hits and one run. Coach Carlton commented: "Sissy was tired but I told her 'You're a senior. Go do your best and we'll back you up.' And we did."

Carlton also shined on offense -- she drove in two runs and scored the tying run.

Lauren Brem tripled and tallied two RBI and Megan Vynne tripled in the game-tying RBI and scored the winning run.

Miller went 3-for-3 at the plate. She doubled and drove in a run. "It was just a rush. Everything was really exciting.... We have a really together team," Miller said after the season-extending win.

"We're coming back tomorrow. We get to play another day," said assistant coach George Brem.

Friday Harbor opened the game with three runs. Carlton reached base on balls, Megan Vynne singled and both went home on Lauren Brem's triple. Senior Kelsea Peterman rapped a base hit, driving in Brem.

Cle Elum scored a run in the bottom of the first and the second. The Warriors broke out for four runs in the fourth and led 6-3.

Cassie Brophy was hit by a pitch in the fourth and scored on Brandie Miller's double and Friday Harbor trailed 6-3.

The Warriors added one in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-4 lead.

Miller led off the sixth with a single. Peterman singled and the Wolverines appeared on the verge of a rally. The Wolverine fans went silent when Cassie Brophy hit a rope but the second baseman, gloved it and tagged Peterman for an unassisted double-play.

Mackenzie Raab, the Wolverines No. 10 hitter, kept the Wolverines alive after being hit by a pitch. Carlton cranked her two-run double and the score was 6-6. Vynne tripled down the third-baseline, driving Carlton home. Vynne scampered home on an overthrow to third and the Wolverines led 8-7.

Vynne wasn't thinking of an extra-base hit when she went to the plate. "I was hoping for a base hit," the sophomore said. "I tried to stay positive."

Cle Elum had the tying run at third with one out in the sixth but the Wolverine defense stiffened. In the bottom of the seventh, Cle Elum had a runner on first with no outs. Friday Harbor catcher Natalie Chevalier picked off a pinch runner trying to steal second. The next batter popped out and the final batter grounded out.

"It was the perfect time to make the perfect throw," Brem noted.

Okanogan, who was sent to the consolation bracket by tourney Champion Cedar Park Christian, went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning of the loser-out game.

Friday Harbor scored two in the fifth inning of the defensive game. Brophy reached base on an error and advanced to second on Miller's sacrifice bunt. Natalie Chevalier, who didn't see many plate appearances this season, singled and Brophy took third. Brophy scored on a ground-out by Carlton. Chevalier went home on a base hit by Brem.

Okanogan loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth but the Wolverines held the Warriors to one run. The Warrriors took advantage of a couple of Wolverine miscues in the sixth to score the winning run. Vynne snagged a line drive at short and doubled off a runner on third to limit the damage.

With a young and talented team returning, Carlton plans to plans to return to the state tourney. "We'll be back here again next year," he declared.

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COVERAGE OF STATE TOURNEY

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Coverage of previous years

Wolverine softball team completes record season