Wolves’ ‘identity’ will take shape this week

In his 29 years of coaching baseball at South Kitsap High School, Elton Goodwin can’t recall a game his players failed to hit flyouts in the outfield.

Despite hitting into 11 groundball outs, the Wolves earned a 7-0 shutout win at home against Bremerton Friday in a Narrows League Bridge Division game.

Senior pitcher Travis Vetters allowed just two hits and struck out seven in five innings of work.

But Vetters also struggled with his control, throwing only 49 of 87 pitches for strikes.

Though he left his fastball up in the zone, Vetters was able to throw it past the Bremerton lineup.

Goodwin said he is mildly concerned with Vetters, who is expected to be the team’s No. 2 hurler.

“I’m not sold on him yet,” Goodwin said. “He’s key to our going further. But if you can’t throw strikes you can’t have him in there. I think he does have the talent. It’s just (in his head).”

Though SK managed double figures in hits (10) for the first time this season, eight of those hits came from Vetters (3-for-4, RBI), Boya Quichocho (3-for-3, RBI), and Tyler Mayfield (2-for-4).

While they hit a combined eight-for-11, the rest of the team hit a measly two-for-18.

Those two hits were RBI singles from seniors Josh Showers and Brandon Nickerson.

Needing to break out the whooping sticks, SK officially broke out of their hitting slump Monday in a 9-3 win at North Kitsap.

SK had 15 hits in the affair.

Showers led the arsenal going 4-for-5, Andy Sund was 2-for-3, Vetters was 3-for-5, and Quichocho also had a pair of hits.

The win improves SK’s record to 2-0 in Narrows League 4-1 on the season

SK junior pitcher Brian Cox threw five shutout innings for the win.

Senior Jesse Orton came on in relief in the sixth inning and gave up three runs.

Quichocho mopped up the seventh for the save.

Prior to the game NK game, Goodwin said the next seven days would be one of the most important weeks of the season.

After playing at Port Angeles today, SK hosts Gig Harbor April 2.

PA, which advanced to state last year, lost its top two pitchers, but Goodwin said PA is probably the toughest place to play.

“They’re going to be tough to beat,” Goodwin said. “They’re probably not the team they were last year but you don’t get any breaks up there.”

Referring to the skewed umpiring that has long been discussed by coaches in the former Olympic League, Goodwin said the home bias there will never go away.

“It’s a disaster up there,” he said. “You better take charge because if it’s a close game you’re not getting a break. They’ve never changed that. They’re always for (PA).

“And we’re SK,” he said. “Do you think they’re going to give us a break?”

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