Central Kitsap hasn't had much luck against Gig Harbor recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Cougars are taking a road trip to take on the Tides at 6:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Central Kitsap came out on top against Mount Tahoma on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive nine-run second inning. The Cougars were the clear victors by a 16-1 margin over the T-Birds. The Cougars haven't had any issues with the T-Birds recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Savvy Paulson made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 1-for-1 with one triple and two RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.
In other batting news, Kylee Peterson was a standout: she got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI. That triple was her first of the season. Alex Berg was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and three runs.
Central Kitsap kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mount Tahoma only managed five hits.
Meanwhile, Gig Harbor came tearing into Wednesday's match with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Abes a 14-0 shutout.
Gig Harbor got a big performance out of Abby Miller, who went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. The team also got some help courtesy of Gracie Carey, who went 1-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Central Kitsap's victory was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-2. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.2 runs on average over those games. As for Gig Harbor, their record now sits at 11-2.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Central Kitsap has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .516. However, it's not like Gig Harbor struggles in that department as they've averaged .593. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Central Kitsap skirted past Gig Harbor 6-4 in their previous matchup back in March. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cougars since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
