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The young Decatur Gator fastpitch team got off to a 1-1 start with a split in a double header Wednesday at Celebration Park. The Gators beat Stadium, 6-5, and lost to South Kitsap, 4-0.

In the loss to South Kitsap, the Gators’ offense could muster only two hits. Decatur also made five errors. Junior Rachel Painter took the loss on the mound, despite giving up only four hits.

Against Stadium, the Gators had to hang on in the sixth inning. Decatur took a 6-0 lead into the top of the sixth, but Stadium tallied five runs to make a game of it. Painter picked up the win on the mound and had a no-hitter through five innings before being taken out of the game. Samantha Ganacias was 2-for-4 for the Gators.

Jefferson

The defending South Puget Sound League South Division champion Jefferson Raiders started the season with a pair of shutout losses Wednesday. The Raiders lost to Kentwood, 7-0, and South Kitsap, 3-0.

Kentwood’s A.J. Cavanaugh threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts during the win.

Against South Kitsap, the Raiders gave up three runs in the top of the seventh inning to lose the game. Jefferson only could muster three hits off of South Kitsap’s Brittany Miller. The Raiders’ Amanda Herrera went the distance on the mound for Jefferson, scattering six hits.

Federal Way

The Eagles opened their season with a tough 3-1 loss to the Kentridge Chargers and a 5-3 loss to Stadium Wednesday.

Federal Way actually outhit Kentridge 5-3, but couldn’t get the big one when they needed it. Sophomore Jennifer Ishikawa pitched the entire game for the Eagles and had 10 strikeouts. She also scored Federal Way’s only run. Leslie Davis was 2-for-2 for the Eagles. Against Stadium, the Eagles outhit the Tigers 7-5.

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