Thomas Jefferson girls softball scores rainy win over Kentlake, 11-2

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders softball took down the Kentlake Falcons by a score of 11-2 in a downpour in five innings before the game was called due to a lack of light on the field.

The game started at 6 p.m. at Kent-Meridian and was able to be played due to the fact that the field was turf. However, the new turf field has no lights and the game had an end time of 8 p.m.

“On this team, we talk a lot about when adversity strikes how we respond is going to be the difference between being a winning team and one that packs up early,” Head Coach Annalise Campbell said.

Thomas Jefferson has won two consecutive games and looks to be back on the right track after winning just one of their last three coming into the game. The Raiders are one game back of the Auburn Mountainview Lions for second place, but have a better overall record than the Lions. As it stands the Raiders’ record in the league is 5-3, and overall the team is 7-3.

Coach Campbell said she gives her girls an “A” working towards an A+ this season. “We’re competing with every team in the league and I think we’re one of the top teams in this league. We’re planning on going back to the district this year, for the second year after a long drought.”

The win continues the trend of great offense for the Raiders this season. In six of the seven wins this season, the Raiders scored more than 10 runs. Overall Thomas Jefferson ranks fourth in the NPSL in average runs scored this season. Something that starting pitcher junior Ava Heitman said she was very grateful for. “It’s good to have that support,” she said.

In her five innings of work, Heitman struck out seven, allowing two runs to score, just one of the runs was earned on four hits. She was able to perform very well given the elements. “I got to give credit to my pitcher and catcher. They’ve been a strong battery every single game…We talk to her about mental toughness and she’s growing every day,” said Coach Campbell.

Offensively the Raiders were a little slow to start, Kentlake was the first to score in the contest on a wild pitch. In the top of the third Thomas Jefferson got going. The Raiders had four consecutive one-out singles which brought home two runs. Senior Kaycee Palomo brought home Heitman and sophomore Emily Kroop. Junior Lauren Baas scored Palomo from second base.

In the Kentlake third, they responded with a run of their own. But that capped the scoring for the Falcons in the game.

Heitman was able to cruise after the third inning, only allowing one hit over the two innings before the game was called, she gave a shout-out to her catcher whom her coach gave a shout-out to as well. “She’s so good, I love her so much,” Heitman said.

“Her catcher, Lauren Baas, helps talk her up and helps her out in tough situations,” Campbell said.

The fourth inning was Thomas Jefferson’s best inning. Five Raiders touched home in the frame, Ava Robertson scored two on a double to start the scoring. She came around on a single from Kroop.

The next three runs were scored without Thomas Jefferson recording a hit, but they put pressure on the defense with balls in play. Kroop scored on a Baas fielder’s choice ground out. Heitman scored again this time on an error, and senior Hailie Mathews scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Karis Song. After four, the Raiders were on top at 8-2.

In the fifth, Heitman once again started the offense for the Raiders, cashing in two runs with a double. She came around to score her third run of the game on a wild pitch and ended the scoring for the contest, 11-2.

The Raiders now have back-to-back wins for the first time this year since mid-March when they went on to win five games in a row. Thomas Jefferson has eight games remaining on their schedule – six league, two non-league. Of the eight games left on the Raiders’ schedule Kentwood and Auburn Mountainview are the only teams with records over .500 on the docket.

For the team to finish strong it’s about having positive team chemistry “If we stay together as a whole and have more team bonding we can come together as a whole,” Heitman said.