Spring sports preview: Fastpitch

Head coach: Tim Lusk (third year)

Assistant: Mike McFarlen

2018 finish: 10-14 (6-6, fourth in Olympic League); 2-2 at districts

Top returning players: Ashleigh Cate (sr.), Isabelle Dennis (sr.), Madison Nute (sr.), Raelynn Opdyke (sr.), Latisha Robideau (sr.), Bobbi Sparks (sr.), Kylynn Stringer (jr.), Jayla Julmist (so.), Kailyn Lopez (so.)

Newcomers: Lilia Fili (fr.), Christy Grubb (NA), Kiana Robideau (so.), Leann Raney (fr.)

Top competition: North Kitsap, Port Angeles, Olympic

Head coach Tim Lusk and the Wolves may be a bit short on overall numbers, but a Sequim’s 2019 spring lineup has a bunch of players able to hold down a number of positions.

Sequim looks for a return trip to the postseason after placing fourth in the Olympic League, and will go about it this March with all but two of its district tourney-qualifying team coming back.

“We’ve got five seniors and a good mix of sophomores and freshmen,” Lusk said. “We’re bringing in some inexperienced players.”

That hand was forced a bit, he noted, with a turnout of just 22 players at Sequim — not an uncommon reality for many area fastpitch programs.

“Some (schools) don’t even keep their JV programs,” Lusk noted. “They’re just not coming out.”

All-Olympic League first-team infielder Isabelle Dennis is back, spearheading Sequim’s three-Wolf pitching rotation while she’s not holding down second base.

“(Dennis is) a great all-around ballplayer; she hits and pitches well,” Lusk said.

And, like many players on Sequim’s roster, Dennis can play multiple spots on the diamond.

“We are two-deep in most positions (so) we’re going to have some depth,” Lusk said.

Also back are a pair of all-league second-teamers in senior shortstop Bobbi Sparks and sophomore Jayla Julmist.

“I expect them all to click together,” Lusk said.

In 2018, the Wolves saw their string of seven consecutive state tourney appearances end after going 2-2 at the West Central District tourney and 10-14 overall.

Sequim lost Shelby Jones, who shared much of the mound responsibilities with Dennis last spring, and second team all-leaguer Jessica Dominguez.

But Sequim sees an influx of solid younger players, Lusk noted, including freshman hurler Leanne Raney and sophomore pitcher Kailyn Lopez.

“We’ve got some talent,” Lusk said, “if we can figure out the pitching staff.”

The Sequim coach expects North Kitsap’s Vikings, who placed third in the Olympic League last season, to be strong behind starter Sarah Smith, along with Olympic, last year’s runner-up, and defending league champ Port Angeles.

“Our goal is to have a district position locked up before those last three, four games,” Lusk said.

Wolves stop Spartans, split at Anacortes

Sequim’s Wolves opened the season strong, getting five innings of no-hit pitching from senior Isabelle Dennis and breaking the scoreless, non-league game with a three-run fifth inning in a 5-1 win over Forks at the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s Billy Whiteshoes Memorial Park on March 14.

Both teams were playing great defense, said Sequim coach Tim Lusk. The Wolves pushed three runs across in the fifth inning when Christy Grubb was hit by a pitch, Jayla Julmist drew a walk and Kailyn Lopez beat out a bunt for a hit to load the bases. A check-swing base hit by Latisha Robideau brought in Grubb and Julmist. Lopez added the third run on a passed ball.

Sequim scored two insurance runs in the seventh when Dennis tripled and scored on an error, and Bobbi Sparks added the fifth run on a Spartans error.

Forks got one back in its final at-bats on an RBI single by Chloe Leverington.

LeeAnn Raney pitched the final two innings for the Wolves and struck out the last batter to end the game.

Grubb and Lopez had two hits each.

On March 16 in Anacortes, Sequim earned a split with the host Seahawks.

In the opener, Dennis gave up just four hits and struck out seven in a 7-2 Sequim victory. Grubb, Julmist and Raelynn Opdyke each had two hits in a 10-hit Sequim attack.

In the second game, Sequim and Anacortes were tied 7-7 through four innings before Anacortes surged ahead in the fifth for a 16-9 victory.

Sequim scored three times in the first, four in the second and a pair of runs late.

Dennis and Julmist had three hits each and Sparks had two hits. Julmist and Raney each had a home run.

Megan Bellusci led Anacortes with four hits and Alanah Harju added three.

Looking ahead

Sequim hosts North Mason on March 20 and plays at rival Port Angeles on March 21. The Wolves then host Mount Tahoma on March 23 and Bremerton on March 29, Sequim’s final game before spring break.

Sequim senior Latisha Robideau takes a hard swing at an early season practice last week. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

An all-Olympic League first team infielder in 2018, Sequim’s Isabelle Dennis figures to anchor the Wolves’ pitching staff this spring, head coach Tim Lusk says. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell