EVERETT — On Wednesday the Sultan softball team lost a doubleheader to Lakewood by a combined score of 57 to 7. The following day, Turks’ head coach Garth MacDicken took his squad to see a University of Washington softball game in the hope that the outing would create better team chemistry.
It worked.
With the help of 18 walks, the Sultan offense put up a season-high 17 runs and the Turks not only posted their first win of the year, but it was the first time ever that a Sultan girls varsity team beat an Archbishop Murphy team in any sport.
“It’s an amazing feeling considering the exact same team lost to Lakewood (by a lopsided amount),” MacDicken said. “I think the team really bonded on the trip to the UW game. They promised each other to try harder, there was more chatter on the field and more encouragement.”
Sultan sophomore Rachel Kirkpatrick filled the box score offensively. Hitting cleanup, Kirkpatrick reached base on all six of her plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, three walks, three RBI and four runs scored.
Matching her 3-for-3 performance was Wildcats’ leadoff hitter Gemma Miller. Miller homered in each of the first two innings, reached safely five times and stole two bases.
“Miller is an awesome leadoff hitter,” raved MacDicken. “She’s super fast and can hit for power and contact. She’s just a tough out.”
With the win Sultan improved to 1-7 in Cascade Conference play and overall. The Wildcats fell to 2-5, 2-5.
At Archbishop Murphy H.S.
Sultan4004306—1763
Archbishop Murphy1211214—13105
Jolene Makinaw, Rachel Kirkpatrick (4), Makinaw (7) and Rachel Kirkpatrick and Randi Tuggle. Maddie Clark, Marea Homes (5), Gemma Miller (7), Homes (7) and Kendell Erickson. WP—Makinaw. LP—Clark. 2B—Rachel Kirkpatrick (S) 2. HR—Gemma Miller (AM) 2, Kendell Erickson (AM) 1. Records—Sultan 1-7 league, 1-7 overall. Archbishop Murphy 2-5, 2-5.
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