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And after the T-Birds’ 10-0 six-inning EvCo win over Black Hills on Friday afternoon, they sit atop of the league standings in a first-place tie and look ahead to the second half of the league play starting Tuesday against River Ridge.
“It’s nice to be sitting where we’re at, because you just never know,” Hill said. “Everything is up right now, and a different kid is starting to catch on fire.”
Offense certainly hasn’t been a sore spot. Tumwater (10-1 overall, 6-1 EvCo) has outscored its opponents 79-18 in its 11 games. Pitcher Chelsea Felton recorded her third shutout in the past four games, and her sixth on the season. She gave up three hits, struck out nine and walked two.
Amanda Deck got things going offensively for Tumwater, leading off the game with an inside-the-park home run on the third pitch she saw. Hill gave her the stop sign as she rounded third, but Deck scored standing up to give the home team a quick, 1-0 lead.
Deck has been one of the team’s hottest hitters of late and finished the game 2-for-3 – also adding a leadoff triple in the sixth – with two runs scored. She ended the game scoring the final run on a sac fly by Ashley Wells.
“For me, I look for that outside pitch to drive to the opposite field,” Deck said. “It’s been really successful for me. ... Everything is coming together really well for us.”
Things got going in a big way in the fourth inning, when Tumwater put up five runs with only one hit. Sam Stahle led off the inning with a single up the middle, but a wild pitch by Black Hills pitcher Liz Smith led to two runs two batters later. Lakeisha Anger’s two-RBI double down the right field line in the sixth increased the lead to 9-0.
Black Hills’ lineup Friday was underclassmen, including Smith, who is a freshman. Smith has started the past three games in the pitcher’s circle because of a calf injury that has plagued Sam McDonell.
“I think my defense has really played well behind Liz,” Black Hills coach Janene Thompson said. “We’re young, but we’re doing good things.”
Black Hills (1-5 EvCo) hasn’t closed out the first half of league play yet. The team has a game to make up against Hoquiam, which will take place April 29.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473
