After four consecutive trips to the state tournament, the expectations remain high for the Lady Wolves fastpitch squad.
“I expect to bring home some hardware this year,” Sequim manager Mike McFarlen said.
He admits to being disappointed in the Wolves’ 2014 effort where they went 1-2 at the state championships on May 30 in Selah. They lost in the opening round to Capital 4-1, before rebounding with a late-inning-comeback 6-5 win against Ellensburg in the consolation bracket.
But the hard-hitting Wolves couldn’t contend in a rematch of the West Central District Championship with Fife which won 10-1 in the evening game.
Shortstop Mary Lu Clift said looking forward, the hardest thing for the Wolves to do now is stay on top.
“We’ve worked hard to stay there,” she said. “(My expectation) is to go all the way. Everyone on the team has incredible ability and even though it’s early, we feel the team can do it.”
Sequim earned a co-league title with rival Port Angeles, which McFarlen anticipates as another tough opponent this year.
“I think it’ll come down to P.A. and us again,” he said. “They are young but have good athletes and are well coached.”
Clift said one of the biggest differences between this year’s team and others is that the younger players have embraced the team’s hard work ethic particularly in the offseason.
“Everyone worked harder because we’re expecting more,” she said.
Sequim moves forward without its No. 1 pitcher Makalya Bentz who earned Olympic League MVP last year as a senior going 15-2 with a 0.85 earned-run-average and 102 strikeouts.
McFarlen said it’s his first year without a No. 1 pitcher.
“It’s rare for a team to not have a girl you throw against better teams,” he said. “Luckily, we have four non-league games to test the water.”
Olivia Kirsch, McKenzie Bentz, Allysen Montelius and Chloie Sparks will see time as starting pitchers for the Wolves, he said.
Also graduated are all-league first teamers Alexas Besand (1B) and second-teamer Melissa Lewis (OF) with Besand hitting .397 with a team-high five home runs, 36 RBIs and .735 slugging percentage and Lewis with a .413 average, 12 extra-base hits and 28 RBIs.
But a majority of the team is back including first-team all-leaguer Kirsch (3B), second teamers McKenzie Bentz (catcher), Clift (SS) and honorable mentions Tia Bourm (OF) and Halie Wilson (2B).
The girls back on the diamond have all shown they can hit. For example, Kirsch hit .397 with 16 RBIs, Bentz .370 with 17 RBIs, and Clift .362 with four triples, three home runs, 24 RBIs.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, they lost senior Shelby Lott to an injury for the season after leading the Wolves in hitting with a .427 batting average last year.
The Wolves open their season at home against Coupeville on Wednesday, March 18.
Spring Sports Preview: SHS Fastpitch
2014 record in league, overall: 14-2, Olympic League co-champions; 21-5 overall; second at districts; 1-2 at state 2A tournament
Head coach/manager: Mike McFarlen (fourth year). Assistants: Andy Millenberger, Tim Lusk, Donnie Sparks, Jeremy Copeland.
Returning players: Olivia Kirsch, McKenzie Bentz, Mary Lu Clift, Tia Bourm, Halie Wilson, Jordan Bentz, Allysen Montelius, Emily Copeland, Chloie Sparks, Kaylee Gumm
Key newcomers: Nicole Anders, Erin Vig, Kyla Rigg, Adrienne Haggerty
Top league competition: Port Angeles, Kingston, Bremerton
