Central Whidbey pitcher Chloe Marzocca was a two-way terror Tuesday, as her Majors softball team bounced its arch-rival. (Photo courtesy Fred Farris)
Katie Marti (left) and Jada Heaton both had big games, as well, as the Hammerheads remained undefeated. (Photo courtesy Jennifer McDavid-Heaton)
Blowout or nail-biter, it matters not.
The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad is undefeated for one big reason – they can, and will, always find a way to win.
Tuesday night, that meant jumping out to a commanding lead against their arch-rivals, the North Whidbey Little League Bandits, then holding on when their foes came charging back.
When the scoreboard at Volunteer Park was shut off after five furious innings, Central Whidbey sprinted away with a 12-8 win, improving to a flawless 3-0 on the season.
Facing a team which boasts “some big hitters and really good pitching,” the Hammerheads opened the game exactly the way coach Fred Farris wanted them to – aggressively.
“We knew we had our hands full against a good team and rival,” he said.
To prepare his sluggers, Farris brought in CWLL Juniors pitchers Savina Wells and Gwen Gustafson to throw batting practice, guaranteeing the Hammerhead bats would be ready for the increased heat.
And, with a little prep, Central Whidbey was ready.
The Hammerheads broke the game open with five runs in the top of the first, keyed by a heads-up play from Katie Marti.
She’s the latest addition to one of Coupeville’s premier athletic dynasties, a fresh offshoot of a family tree which includes legends like grandpa Paul Messner, a golden god on the gridiron, and cousin Breeanna Messner, a four-sport standout back in the day.
But now it’s Katie Time, and she alertly scrambled to first after a dropped third strike got away from the North Whidbey catcher.
With new life, the Hammerheads immediately capitalized, thanks to Jada Heaton blasting a two-run single.
Chloe Marzocca was dealing heat from the pitcher’s circle for Central, holding her foes scoreless through the first three innings, while helping herself out on offense with a two-run single of her own.
Rolling along with a 10-0 lead, the Hammerheads looked untouchable, but North Whidbey is too good of a team to just roll over and quietly wilt.
The Bandits put together a six-run rally in the fourth to prevent the 10-run mercy rule from being implemented, but they would get no closer.
Taylor Brotemarkle came storming out of the bullpen to slam the door shut, recording the final five outs to seal the win for Marzocca and send Central fans home happy.
The Hammerheads spread their offense around, with Marzocca leading the hit parade with two base-knocks and three RBI.
Brotemarkle, Heaton, Teagan Calkins, and Madison McMillan added a hit apiece, while Brotemarkle came around to score a team-best three times.
Central Whidbey got two runs apiece from Brianna Blouin, Mia Farris, and Allison Nastali, with Marti, McMillan, and Marzocca also tapping home.
As good as they were on offense, the Hammerheads also sizzled on defense.
The team’s catcher and third-baseman combo of Calkins and Blouin teamed up to nail three runners caught between third and home.
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