Wolves boast five starters on All-Kitsap County team

After posting a perfect regular season that included a 19-game winning streak, the Narrows League championship and a national ranking in USA Today, it’s easy to see why many members of South Kitsap’s fastpitch softball team are garnering many post-season awards.

And it’s not stopping anytime soon.

The Wolves are well-represented on the second annual Kitsap News Group All-Kitsap County Fastpitch team, nailing down seven positions, including five starters and the team’s Most Valuable Player.

The team was voted on by sports writers and photographers of the KNG family of papers. The team is made up of academically eligible players from all the high schools in Kitsap County.

Not surprising, the Wolves dominate this team like they dominated the Narrows League, with pitching and defense. South had two pitchers named to the team — Brittany Miller, the unanimous choice for MVP, and Amanda Galla. Rounding out the Wolves’ first teamers are defensive stalwarts Stephanie Mott, Jievielyn Howard and Chantal Boddie.

The Wolves’ are also looking good for the future as two sophomores, Caty Lieseke and Natalie Peapea, were named as honorable mentions.

All-Kitsap County Fastpitch Team

• 1B — Lauren Johnson, Central Kitsap: The Cougars’ Johnson started the year in the outfield but moved over the first midway through. That was more fitting for the prototypical power hitter anyway, giving CK strong defense and a league-leading four long balls.

• 2B — Molly McClusky, North Kitsap: The former Viking outfielder stepped up for NK at second base for her senior season and even played through a broken finger for the second half of the season. Her talents and work ethic aside, it is her passion for competing that makes the NK team’s captain who she is.

• 3B — Jievielyn Howard, South Kitsap: Carrying a big bat and providing solid defense, Howard was part of the best infield in the Narrows League. The senior hit a blistering .508 and knocked in a team-high 28 runs, some of those scoring on her four triples.

• SS — Stephanie Mott, South Kitsap: The best fielder in the league, Mott has incredible range at short. When the ball is hit anywhere close to her, it becomes an out. She also got it done at the plate, where she hit .493 with 11 extra-base hits, including four triples, and drove in 18 runs. She is heading to New York next year to play at Fordham University.

• OF — Chrystal Camus, North Kitsap: The senior made not one error in right field this season, leading by example and in the dugout as a co-captain with McCluskey.

• OF — Britt Waldon, Central Kitsap: Although she switched to rightfield midway through the season, Waldon proved a formidable opponent wherever she played. The CK senior hit .404 to lead the Cougars.

• OF — Chantal Boddie, South Kitsap: A solid outfielder who moved from left to right depending on the circumstances, the senior started off slow but came on at the end of the year finishing with a .375 average and 10 runs batted in.

• C - Melody Griffin, North Kitsap: The North Kitsap catcher shared duties for a short span with backup Kayla King, but come post-season, Griffin is the only Viking Coach Dan Kolda wanted behind the plate. The powerful junior often bats cleanup for NK as well.

• P — Brittany Miller, South Kitsap: She rebounded from an injury-plagued junior season to have a fantastic senior year and is hands-down the MVP of this team. Miller went 12-1 with an earned run average of 0.26. She allowed just 48 hits and three earned runs all year. In 82 innings, Miller struck out 119 while walking just 12 and set a school record with 14 strike outs in the Wolves 2-0 win over Wilson in the Narrows League title game. She’s not too bad at the plate either, batting .333 with eight RBI while laying down eight sacrifice bunts.

• P — Rachel Kramer, North Kitsap: The duty of replacing Heather Case from a year ago is a tall order. But as starting pitcher, Kramer had successfully taken the Vikings were Case could not — the state tournament.

• P — Amanda Galla, South Kitsap: She could be on this team at two positions. She excelled on the mound with a 6-1 record that included an ERA of 0.81. The senior walked just five batters while striking out 49 in 42 innings of work. She’s also solid at first base, and hit .386 with five RBI at the top of the Wolves’ order.

• P — Erika Quint, Central Kitsap: Part of a two-pronged pitching attack, Quint went 7-3 on the year while striking out 77 batters and walking just 16.

• P - Coreena Stout: North’s junior backup pitcher went from being a North Kitsap diamond standout to one of the state’s best at the West Central District tournament, holding perennial favorites Decatur without a run while driving in the game-winning RBI. She also went 10-for-15 in the entire tournament.

• UTL — Brittney DeVitt, Klahowya: One of the bright spots in a slow-starting season for the Eagles, DeVitt smashed a .588 clip. She also had two homers and 20 RBI for the Eagles.

• Coach — Kathy Ballew, South Kitsap: Had a ton of talent to work with and did what few thought was possible, running the table in the Narrows League. Ballew guided South to an undefeated regular season that included the school’s first Narrows League title since 1997.

Honorable mention:

• Caty Lieseke, South Kitsap: A sophomore with a strong arm and a big bat, she handled the pitching staff with the skill of a senior while hitting .393 with three triples and drove in 16 runs.

• Heather Fontenot, King’s West: The Warriors ace on the hill, Fontenot went 8-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 57 innings. She also carried a big stick, hitting an even .500 in 36 at-bats

• Katelyn Shaw, Olympic: The Trojan workhorse started most of Olympic’s games this season, doing her part to keep the game close. With better run support, she could have given the Trojans a fighting chance.

• Jacqui Bushor, Bremerton: The other pitcher for the Knights, Bushor had her moments, including fanning 14 and 11 in early-season wins over Lincoln and Foss, respectively.

• Lindsay Webel, Olympic: With a strong glove at third base, Webel also displayed some of the only power Oly could muster in its lineup.

• Tiffany Henry, Central Kitsap: Henry was the other of CK’s pitching tandem, going 7-1 with a 27-to-4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

• Natalie Peapea, South Kitsap: A sophomore centerfielder who grew into a key player as the season went on. Peapea hit .333 with 10 runs batted in and made some key catches during the playoff run.

• Amy Renfrow, Central Kitsap: The Cougars outfielder hit well above the .340 mark throughout the season before a late-season slump found her sitting at .302.

• Kayla Thomas, Bremerton: The Knights’ pitcher handled most of the games for Bremerton, helping a young squad improve. A workhorse for Bremerton, Thomas’ presence could be felt on the field and in the clubhouse.

• Megan Kreifels, King’s West: The pitcher Kreifels went 4-0 for King’s West, posting a low 1.68 ERA. In the box, Kreifels batted .590 in 39 at-bats, helping lead the Warriors to the Class B state tourney.

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