The Issaquah High School softball field was host to an explosion of offense when rivals Issaquah and Skyline High School squared off March 25. It was the Spartans’ bats that proved to pack the most punch, though, defeating the Eagles, 9-6.
The schools combined to produce 25 hits, but the game remained scoreless through two innings, before Skyline pushed six runs across the plate in the third.
Skyline’s Madisen Camp-Chimenti put the Spartans on the board first, driving in two runs with a double laced to the left-center field gap. It was just the beginning of what would be a productive day for the Skyline junior, who collected four hits and three RBIs.
“Getting those hits was so awesome,” she said. “It just felt so nice getting the girls around the bases.”
Every Spartan starter came to the plate in the explosive third inning, when Skyline accumulated seven of its 14 hits.
The Eagles would not be outdone, however, cutting the deficit in half with three runs in the bottom of the third, led by Issaquah’s Kylie Bevell, who drove in two runs.
Issaquah would go on to add three more runs, highlighted by Sydney Shultz’s three RBIs on a pair of doubles.
Skyline also added three more runs, with leadoff batter Charlotte Zhao sending one over the fence in the fifth inning.
“I was kind of in the zone, the adrenaline was pumping,” she said. “I just wanted to get a nice solid hit.”
Skyline pitcher Winter Ridgeway got the win for the Spartans, pitching the entire game, allowing 11 hits with six strikeouts and only one walk.
Issaquah’s pitcher, Bevell, had nearly identical stats, giving up 14 hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
A win against rival Issaquah feels a little bit sweeter than other victories, Skyline catcher Tia Hedman admitted. Hedman had three hits, two of which were doubles, for the Spartans.
“It means a lot to us,” she said. “Issaquah is our big rival, so for all of us, we were really pumped coming out here.”
After spending nearly 10 years away from the Skyline softball program, coach Ken Brooks felt right at home opening conference play against a familiar foe in Issaquah. Brooks coached Skyline from 1997 to 2003 and returned this year, replacing coach Alison Mitchell.
“It was awesome. What a great win for these girls. They never quit,” he said. “I don’t care if both teams are 0-18 or 18-0, it’s going to be this kind of game every time.”
For first-year Issaquah coach Ron Hatlen, this was his first experience getting a taste of the rivalry. His team played hard, but its youth proved to be too much to overcome, he said.
“We’re young. They could have quit, but they didn’t,” he said. “They were down, 6-0, and they came back and made it a game. Just a couple hits here and there and it would have been a different outcome.”
Hatlen said he expects a better showdown when the two teams meet again April 22 at Skyline High School. All Issaquah has to do, he joked, is pitch away from Skyline’s power-hitting leadoff hitter.
“We just have to avoid Charlotte and we’ll be all right,” he said.
Up next
- Skyline vs. Ballard
- Issaquah vs. Roosevelt
- 4 p.m. April 3
- Lower Woodland Park
