Timberline fastpitch
Age: 17
Year: Junior
Family: Mom, Carol; dad, Steve; older brother, Spenser.
Other sports: Competitive fastpitch
Grew up in: Lacey
Last week: She had a total of 27 strikeouts and gave up only five hits in three Timberline wins last week as the Blazers improved to 3-0 in the Class 3A Western Cascade Conference and 6-2 overall. She also pitched a no-hitter and hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 2-0 win over North Mason on March 16. After Tuesday, the Blazers are 5-0, 7-2 overall.
About last week: "Our games went really well. We did well. Our season has gone well. It feels really good (getting strikeouts), because I know when I'm striking someone out, it's helping my team. They don't have to make as many plays. So I'm helping myself and them as well."
From Timberline coach Ken Carey: "It was a very good week. It's fun to be riding the momentum. We still have some tough teams to face, like Capital. I'm very excited, because she's very confident on the pitching mound. The whole mood of the game changes when she's out there."
What do you do to prepare for a game? "I think of the team we're going to play, if I know anything about the hitters or pitcher. I prepare what pitches I can throw and how I can get them out."
Who is someone, living or dead, you might like to meet? "I would really like to meet Jennie Finch, who is on the USA softball Olympic team. She has gone through a lot. She's made it to highest level in fastpitch, and she's seen so many styles of play."
How do you think the Mariners will do this year? "I don't know how well they're going to do, but I hope they do well. I'm a big supporter. I'm really hoping they have a good year. Hopefully it'll be better than last year. It can't be too much worse. I've been to a few games. I really enjoy the new stadium. I think it's neat going there and seeing so many people supporting them."
What are you doing for spring break? "I'm going to be going camping, take some time off from fastpitch. I'm going with some friends from school. We're going to camp at the lake. I'll take some time off and recoup."
JACOB HUNTINGTON
Black Hills soccer
Age: 17
Year: junior
Family: Mom, Katherine; dad, Kent; younger brother, Isaac.
Other sports: Football
Grew up in: Tumwater
Last week: The goalkeeper had a total of 21 saves in three Black Hills wins last week, including a pair of key saves during the Wolves' 4-3 penalty kick shootout win over Centralia. Black Hills also had shutouts over Elma and Hoquiam. The Wolves improved to 5-0 in the Class 2A Evergreen Conference and 5-1 overall.
About last week: "I thought we had really good defensive play. We really shut them down. When we got to penalty shootout, our first guy missed. Their first two shots, I wasn't really focused. The third shot, I focused and stepped it up. The fourth one, I read it right, but it turned inside. The fifth one was just focus. It was just a big win. We worked really hard for that."
From Black Hills coach Mike Velasquez: "He went through five games and only gave up three goals. He's just covering the goal really well. Our first game he gave up one goal, then he had two shutouts. The fourth game was a shutout, then the fifth game he gave up three goals to a very good Centralia game. But he was hero of game. Centralia was up 3-0, and we tied it. It went to a penalty shootout, and he made two huge saves. On the last one the ball was placed perfectly, and he just read it."
What do you do to prepare for a game? "I always have my music on. I do the same drills over and over. The right shin guard and the right cleats go on before the left ones."
Who is someone, living or dead, you might like to meet? "The person I'd really like to meet is (U.S. men's soccer team goalkeeper) Tim Howard. He's one of my big heroes. He's a good inspiration. He's a great goalkeeper."
How do you think the Mariners will do this year? "I don't know. I think we can hang with anybody as far as offense. But I don't know if our pitching will be good, though Felix Hernandez looked good in the opener. If they can find a middle reliever guy, they'll be fine."
What are you doing for spring break? "For spring break, I think we're going to go camping in Oregon with the family. We always just take a trip. We try to go somewhere, if we can work it around the soccer. My freshman year, we went to North Carolina."
Other top performances
- Carissa Krumpols, Shelton fastpitch: Junior had a school-record 15 strikeouts while walking two and was 3-for-4 at the plate in a 15-4 victory over Bremerton. Also earned a victory over Lakes and had two hits.
- Natalie Sahli, North Thurston tennis: Senior won three matches to boost her record to 7-0 as the Rams' top singles player.
- Hannah Scholes, Capital track: Junior ran a Western Cascade Conference-best 1:01.3 in the 400 meters and anchored two winning relays in season-best times against Lakes.
- Kayleen Tabil, Timberline tennis: Senior won two matches to improve to 9-0 in singles this season. Her third match was suspended because of rain with her leading 6-1, 4-1.
- Greg Ford, Steilacoom baseball: Senior center fielder went 7-for-11 with four RBI and seven stolen bases in three Sentinels victories last week. He also scored eight runs and hit a double and triple.
