In their after-game huddle, Mount Si’s fastpitch team gave out praise in the form of claps.

Seniors who held it down in last week’s road match against the Sammamish Totems earned double-claps. So did younger players who showed fire in defensive plays.

The Mount Si team battling for a league first place rank doesn’t really have any superstars—there’s no telling in any given game who will surprise or make a big difference. That’s part of its key to success.

Mount Si won 14-3 on Wednesday, April 23, on the road with Sammamish.

Claire Lis started on the mound, and shut out the Totems for five innings. Bayley Barnett finished the game.

“I was able to get my focus from everyone,” said Lis. “That definitely helped. Our starting players really picked me up and were able to make the outs.

“I was really proud of the hitting—we really executed there,” she added. “Our goal was to come out better than last time. We wanted to come out and play like we’ve been playing.”

“Today, the middle of our order were the girls who came through,” said coach Larry White. “It’s really interesting—each day, it’s somebody different that’s really coming through with the big hits that get us going.”

While Britney Stevens and Celine Fowler are the primary drivers at bat, “Kara Link has been on fire,” White said. “Jenny Carroll has been hitting everything. The ball must look like a watermelon to her!”

Against the Totems, Carroll and second basewoman Link added several hits.

Up by nine, White put in younger players late in the contest.

“I try to get everybody into the game,” he said. “They play well. They deserve to play.”

Sophomore Jamie Trotto came up to the plate in the late game and whacked a double.

“It felt good,” said Trotto.

“She hits every game,” Lis said. “She doesn’t disappoint.”

Teammates praised sophomore pinch runner Nellie Joselyn for a skillful catch of a spinning ground ball that ended the final inning.

“Nellie is one of our faves,” White said. “She’s got a lot of energy, whether she’s playing or not. She brings a lot of enthusiasm to our team.”

Emily Webb caught from Lis for most of the game; Annie Hiebert came in as catcher in the final inning. Hiebert is showing a lot of confidence.

Wildcat fastpitch has no one top pitcher: “We have three very good ones, and we use all three”—Paige Weatherbee, Bailey Barnett and Lis, White said.

Mount Si fell to Lake Washington on Friday, April 25, 4-1. They beat Bellevue, 10-0, on Monday.

The Wildcats next host Mercer Island on Wednesday, April 30, then travel to Liberty on Friday, May 2. Game times are at 4:30 p.m.

Mount Si’s Britney Stevens rounds second, and below, comes home.

Nikki Carroll takes the plate as her sister Jenny readies for a run home

Jenny Carroll eyes her bat

Nellie Joselyn, Heather Hinton, Claire Lis and Hanna Houser get into the team spirit to start a mid-game inning.

Celine Fowler at bat

Paige Weatherbee comes home.

Nellie Joselyn aims to steal third.

Kara Link keeps her eye on the ball at second base.

Mount Si catcher Emily Webb gets ready for pitches from Lis.