Jada Heaton digs in under the bright lights. (Jennifer Heaton photos)
They’re making some noise on the diamond.
A year after failing to win a game at the National Softball Association state tourney as a 16U team, the Whidbey Island Thunder moved up a division and split four games against top-level competition.
The joint venture between Coupeville and Oak Harbor, with a couple of Sedro-Woolley players tossed into the mix, finished 7th in a 16-team 18U field.
The Whatcom Wolverines claimed top honors, edging Fury Black 2-1 in the championship game.
“Overall, extremely proud of the girls,” said Thunder coach Matt Suto.
“The girls battled through blood, sweat and bruises to make this weekend a successful one for themselves and our program.”
The Thunder? Smacking base hits and collecting plushies everywhere they go.
After making the trip eastward to the Tri-Cities, the Thunder joined 111 other teams, stretched out across six age levels.
Whidbey Island opened play Friday by nipping the Heat 4-3.
“Girls held it together on a late inning drive to secure victory,” Matt Suto said. “Defense stepped up under pressure to help (pitcher Grace) Swenson get the victory.”
Strong glove work was a key all weekend, with four Thunder players — Jada Heaton, McKayla Smith-Day, Teagan Calkins, and Layla Suto — posting 1.000 fielding percentages.
Saturday was a long day, with the Thunder falling 7-1 to WA Avengers Salas, before bouncing back to knock off Freedom Fastpitch 6-2.
That victory was keyed by a three-run bomb off the bat of Jaymie Kallio.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Thunder launched a two-out rally, with six straight batters reaching safely.
Madison McMillan got things started with a single down the right field line, before Swenson walked, and Ramona Ryder, who hit .714 in the tourney, lashed a base-knock.
That set up Kallio, who launched her dinger to dead center, followed by Loto Tupu mashing a double and Lilly Norman slapping a single to put an exclamation point on a five-run rally.
“The girls never gave up and pushed each other to make plays and came out on top,” Matt Suto said.
Softball phenoms (l to r) Taylor Brotemarkle, Layla Suto, Jada Heaton, and Madison McMillan navigate the parking lot in cushy shoes. (Jennifer Heaton photo)
After playing under the lights Saturday night, the Thunder had to come right back in the early hours of Sunday, closing their tourney run with a 10-0 loss to CC Breeze.
“Couldn’t get the bats woken up after shutting down the fields the night before,” Matt Suto said. “But it was a total team effort.
“When girls numbers were called, they came in to play, whether it was pitching, running, or anything.”
After a break, the Thunder get right back it, traveling to Surrey, British Columbia for the Futures Select tourney July 6-10.
Weekend stats:
Haylee Armstrong — One walk
Taylor Brotemarkle — One single, one walk
Teagan Calkins — Two singles, one double
Jaymie Kallio — One single, one double, one home run
Allie Lucero — One single
Madison McMillan — Three singles, one double, one walk
Lilly Norman — One single, two walks
Ramona Ryder — Five singles
McKayla Smith-Day — One walk
Layla Suto — Three singles
Grace Swenson — One single, two walks
Loto Tupu — One double, one walk
Coupeville Sports 