By Luca Pignatiello,

Journal Intern.

On May 20, the girls’ fastpitch team set out with their hearts on winning their first post-season game against Toledo in Centerville. The team had been fighting against Coupeville for the spot in districts, and they secured their position after a spectacular win on Thursday the fourth. Winning 3-2, Friday Harbor High School took Coupville’s lead and was set to play at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

The game was live-streamed on Facebook, capturing the effort and excitement these girls brought to the match. The lady Wolverines arrived in Centerville ready to beat their, at that time, undecided opponent on the field. Warming up and preparing for the match ahead, they pushed through the 74-degree heat in pursuit of a high-energy game. The bleachers along the field were full of supporting parents, siblings, and friends who came out to cheer the girls on and support them in playing their best match against their opponents.

Stepping on the field at 6 pm, the fast pitch team cheered each other on as they battled against Toledo for the win. In the first inning, though down by two, the Wolverines’ passion and spirit grew as the team kept playing their game. Each player on and off the field threw their hearts into the game as they played, cheering and playing as best they could. With steals on the bases and wild catches and line drives, the game was one of the most strenuous games of the season.

Though the Wolverine’s fastpitch team lost to Toledo 4-9, there were amazing fielding and batting plays taken from it, including a phenomenal double play by second baseman Sarah Cruz, catching a precarious hit and also getting the player on second out with a throw, and Audrey Allen stealing home base after a past throw. The game concluded late, and by 9 p.m., the team congratulated Toledo on their win and reveled in the fact that it would be their last game altogether.

It was seniors’ Audrey Allen and Dani Mckay last game as Wolverines, but promises were made to could come back and cheer on their younger teammates in the future. As the closing game for the softball team, they held their heads high, as it had been years since the Friday Harbor Fastpitch team had made it into the postseason, and it was the first time anyone on the team went into the playoffs.

This year’s team, with their head coach Michelle Stringer, believed themselves to be more of a team than they had been in years, feeling more connected and bonded. Mutual respect and motivation came from everyone on the team, directed at everyone on the team built a group that took pride in their team, loved softball, and always competed with good sportsmanship.

Now that the girls on the team have learned that they can make it into the playoffs, and they have beaten Coupeville, the previous “impossible to beat team in the league,” they know that they can do it again next year, and hopefully make it to state.