Killings’ bat leads sizzling Rogers offense

Rogers High senior Sasha Killings has been crushing the ball lately, helping the Rams storm out of the gate to a 6-1 record prior to entering league play.

Entering the week, Killings had crushed four home runs over the last seven games.

The Bethune-Cookman University signee’s start is exactly how the senior wants to begin her final season.

“Right now, it’s driving me to beat one the team’s (records), which is 11 home runs (in a season),” Killings said. “I’m still going to put my time in to get those other home runs I need.”

She needs to hit eight more home runs to break the record.

“She’s been locked in since the beginning of the season,” Rogers coach Jaclyn Ramsey said. “(She’s just) really focused when she’s at the plate,”

Offensive outbursts

There’s never been a doubt about the explosiveness of the Rogers offense — this Rams team can explode at any time.

With a grueling five-game schedule last week, the offense paved the way as the Rams finished the week 4-1 after pounding out 56 runs and allowing just 26 to opponents.

“I like going home early,” Killings said with a laugh. “It’s just one step, one pitch (for us) at a time each game.”

After a 9-7 loss to Yelm on March 24, Rogers rolled out victories over the weekend, including an 11-1 win over South Puget Sound League South Division foe Spanaway Lake (1-3, 0-1) on Friday.

Rogers also swept morning double-headers on Saturday, starting with an 11-3 win over Prairie in a 4A SPSL-3A Greater St. Helen’s League non-league matchup before squeezing out a 12-11 win over South Kitsap in the noon game.

“Every league game is important. It will all come down to a game here or a game there to win league this year,” Ramsey said after Rogers’ win over Spanaway Lake. “I believe I have the crew that can do it.”

To rip the South Division title from Puyallup’s two-year reign will be a difficult one as the Vikings have started off just as hot as the Rams. But it’s this years offense, Ramsy believes, that will be the difference for the Rams.

“They can score a lot in a little time,” Ramsey said. “I like to add on every inning, but they definitely are very powerful.”

Rogers will host city and league rival Puyallup (7-0, 1-0) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (March 29) at Heritage Field in an early-season meeting of South Division favorites.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Killings’ bat leads sizzling Rogers offense."