Even though the Sumner Spartans girls fastpitch squad trailed the Enumclaw Hornets 4-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning, Spartans interim head coach Jeff Baines knew his team had the ability to muster up a comeback.
“We scored two runs in the top of the fifth and started a little bit of a comeback,” Baines said. “We started playing small ball and started playing our game. We cut their lead in half and got right back in the game.”
Unfortunately for the Spartans, Enumclaw tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning resulting in Enumclaw’s 6-2 victory on April 16 at Enumclaw High School.
Even though the Spartans didn’t come out of the contest victorious, Baines, who is currently filling in for head coach Kim Franett-Fergus because of her current pregnancy, said the Spartans are a team that is finally realizing its sterling potential.
“I was proud of their effort tonight. The girls continue to play hard and compete against very tough opponents. Earlier in the season we were a team that was playing scared,” Baines said. “But in the last few weeks, we’re a team that has started to believe in themselves. We have a talented group of kids and they are taking on and reflecting the personality of Kim right now. We’re starting to get things done. It’s the second year of her running the program and they know they can play with anybody.”
Sumner hurler Katie Littlefield surrendered six runs and eight hits in the loss.
“Katie pitched a good game and improved a lot since she threw against Franklin Pierce. She’s improving every single week and it shows,” Baines said. “She gives it everything she has on the mound for us.”
The fielders behind Littlefield surrendered only two errors, Baines said.
“Alicia Macklin and Abbey Simmons were solid in the field with a couple of dazzling catches,” Baines said.
Macklin and Simmons both went 1-for-3 at the plate with each of their hits going for doubles.
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