Whidbey Thunder sluggers get some quality time together at an axe-throwing establishment. (Kimberly Brotemarkle photo)
It’s the end of the road, for now.
The Whidbey Island Thunder 18U softball squad wrapped a 40-game summer stint with a final weekend in Lynnwood.
The team, which brings together Coupeville, Oak Harbor, and Sedro-Woolley players, got in five games at its final tourney, closing with a hail of home runs.
The Thunder belted five taters on the weekend, with Wolf slugger Teagan Calkins and Wildcat bopper Loto Tupu each cracking a pair of longballs.
Oak Harbor’s Layla Suto rounded out the homer-hittin’ terrors, airmailing a fence-clearer to left in her final at-bat of summer.
While the Thunder didn’t win a title at their final stop, they still lit up the diamond, just as they have done all season.
“It was a good competitive weekend of softball,” said Whidbey coach Matt Suto. “Playing against teams with higher caliber players, our defense stood up to the test and won.”
The diamond guru praised the pitching of Thunder hurlers Grace Swenson, Ramona Ryder, and Tupu, as well as the glove work shown off by the girls playing behind them.
“Steller play from Madison McMillan, Taylor Brotemarkle, Haylee Armstrong, Ryder, Mekayla Smith-Day, Layla Suto, and Jada Heaton,” he said.
Mia Regan, a freshman-to-be, made her debut with the 18U squad, and played strongly in her time behind the plate.
Queens of the diamond, and their coaches. (Michelle Armstrong photo)
The Thunder had a core 14-woman roster this summer, while also using a few call-up players to add to their bench when other commitments, such as Taylor Swift concerts, left a brief hole in the roster.
No matter how the lineup card was filled out, the players on the field responded all season.
“They picked each other up and helped each other out,” Matt Suto said. “They did it each tournament and we still have room to grow next year.”
With girls from three towns, and coaches from two, the Thunder meshed as a team, and that filtered down to the support staff.
“Thank you to all the parents for the support this summer,” Matt Suto said.
“These girls battled through 40 games of softball this summer, and every one of them stayed positive and couldn’t have done it without the support of Mom and Dad or grandpa and grandma or their friends and family.
“I am excited to see what next year has in store for us.”
Lynnwood tourney stats:
Haylee Armstrong — Two walks
Taylor Brotemarkle — Two singles
Teagan Calkins — One single, three doubles, two home runs, one walk
Jayme Kallio — Three singles, one double, one walk
Madison McMillan — One triple
Lilly Norman — Three singles, two walks
Mia Regan — One walk
Ramona Ryder — One single, one walk
Mekayla Smith-Day — Three walks
Layla Suto — One single, one home run
Grace Swenson — Two singles, one walk
Loto Tupu — One single, two home runs
Coupeville Sports 