Wildcats see hope in loss

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Some teams might take a 6-0 loss hard.

Oak Harbor’s fastpitch squad can use Monday’s season-opening defeat to Everett as motivation for the rest of the spring.

“I think we’re starting off on a good note,” OHHS head coach Rayna Trahan said.

In 2005, Oak Harbor went 0-20, but more significantly played just a handful of complete games. In fact, the Wildcats dropped last year’s season opener to the same Seagull team, 10-0, after having the 10-run mercy rule enforced in the fifth inning. The same rule was applied in nearly all of Oak Harbor’s remaining games.

“I think maybe four or five (games), at the most, went seven innings so we’re pleased to be able to do that so soon,” Trahan said.

Things were certainly different for the Wildcats on Monday. Oak Harbor kept within striking distance of Everett the entire contest, but just couldn’t get its offense moving.

A large part of that struggle was a result of Everett starter Cory Mattson. She had 13 strikeouts, no walks and allowed just three OHHS base runners on two hits.

“I think they’re overwhelmed when they see the pitcher warming up and she’s so much faster than our pitchers,” Trahan said. “It’s hard to adjust to unless you’re hitting off the machine, then it’s so accurate, it’s not very realistic.”

Everett’s offense, on the other hand, got on the board right away against Wildcat starter Kayla Ratliff. The OHHS freshman retired the lead off hitter, but a single and two-base error, were followed with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Seagull lead.

Ratliff settled down in the second inning, retiring the side in order, but Everett rallied for three more scores in the third. Four errors behind the freshman didn’t help, but she still managed a strong game in her first varsity outing. She went five innings, allowed seven hits, four earned runs and had two strikeouts.

Trahan was pleased with what she saw.

“I’d like to see what Kayla does when she’s not sick to her stomach,” she said. “She wasn’t feeling well all day.”

Freshman reliever Kim Mowbray also looked sharp for the Wildcats. She pitched two scoreless innings to close the game and didn’t give up any hits.

Oak Harbor’s offense came from junior Lindsey Bear and senior Sarah Meagher. Bear broke up a perfect game bid in the fifth, nailing a soft single to center. Meagher drilled her hit up the middle with two outs in the seventh.

Oak Harbor played at Ferndale yesterday and hosts Sehome at 4 p.m., tomorrow, March 16.

“I hope with these three non-league games coming up we can get everyone game time and see who works best together,” Trahan said.

Everett 203 010 0 — 6 6 1

Oak Harbor 000 000 0 — 0 2 5

Mattson and Welly. Ratliff, Mowbray (6) and Meagher. WP-Mattson (1-0). LP-Ratliff (0-1).