POULSBO — After the game against Central Kitsap had ended Thursday afternoon, North Kitsap pitcher Heather Case stood in the Vikings’ dugout, frowned and gestured toward the still-dying daylight.
“Look at this — it’s still light out. I don’t know why we stopped playing,” she said.
Then she grinned.
The fastpitch game between North and Central Kitsap may have ended after extra innings in a frustrating 2-2 tie, but both teams had plenty to smile about.
North Kitsap rebounded from a lackluster performance against Bainbridge Island to turn in a strong, come-from-behind effort against Central Kitsap.
The Cougars showed both grit and finesse in only their second game of the season.
The game was called after the end of the ninth inning because of darkness.
Each team was buoyed by a stellar effort from its starting pitcher.
Case pitched nine innings, yielded only five hits and struck out 10 Cougars.
Central Kitsap’s Jackie Quint also went nine, gave up only four hits and struck out 12 Vikings.
Central Kitsap had struck first on the basepaths, scoring one run in the second inning when Kristi Baumgartner, who had singled, scored on a wild pitch.
They made it 2-0 in the fifth when Baumgartner, who had doubled to open the inning, scored on a play at the plate.
North Kitsap Head Coach Dan Kolda disputed the call, but Baumgartner was called safe to make it 2-0.
North responded in the bottom of the fifth.
Sarah Eddy singled with two outs, then scored on an RBI triple into center field from leadoff batter Ashley Stice.
Stice scored on a single by catcher Lisa Gilbert.
The game then went scoreless for the final four innings.
Each team had opportunities to score — NK had runners at second and third with one out in the eighth, CK had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth — but neither converted.
Despite the deadlock, both coaches were pleased with what they saw.
“We hit well. We fielded well. We didn’t make any dumb baserunning errors,” said Central Kitsap Head Coach Bruce Welling. “Both teams played well for this point in the season.”
North Kitsap Head Coach Dan Kolda was disappointed not to get the win, but pleased with the Vikings’ (0-1-1) play, especially after he had challenged them to play better after their loss to Bainbridge Island.
“They came to play,” he said. “They won’t roll over for anyone.”
The Cougars (0-1-1) and Vikings will meet again at
3:30 p.m. April 23 at CK’s Linder Field.
Central Kitsap 2, at North Kitsap 2
Central Kitsap 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 2
North Kitsap 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 – 2
Jackie Quint and Kristi Baumgartner; Heather Case and Lisa Gilbert. W – None. L – None. Leading hitters, Central Kitsap: Baumgartner 2-3, 2B, Shauna Bernabe 2-3. North Kitsap: Ashley Stice, 1-3, 3B, Gilbert, 1-5, RBI.
