It’s Peninsula’s time in the 3A SSC. Seahawks eye league title, state tournament run

When Alli Kimball threw her final pitch in the top of the seventh inning on March 31, a pitch that resulted in the final Yelm Tornado being retired in a 5-1 South Sound Conference 3A victory, it signaled more than just another ‘W’ for the Peninsula Seahawks.

Kimball’s performance that day netted the junior 13 strikeouts, and Peninsula’s first victory over Yelm in nearly a decade. The win served notice, not only to the SSC but the state, that this Seahawks team has bigger designs than so many of its predecessors.

“Going back to our freshman year, and getting into a team that had no junior varsity,” Kimball said. “To now, having a group that can adapt to any change. Everyone on our team plays every game like it’s our last. We knew if we got that win, we could be off to the races.”

Peninsula followed up its big victory over Yelm with a 6-0 rivalry win against Gig Harbor on Wednesday, sending the Seahawks into their Spring Break with an 8-1 overall record, and sitting atop the SSC at 4-0. It’s rarified air for Peninsula, which got a taste of success last spring but hasn’t advanced to a state tournament since 2013.

Now 10 seasons later, this team believes that is exactly where it is headed. A year ago, playing a Class 4A schedule, Peninsula took down Olympia in the South Puget Sound League semifinals before losing the only title available in a season where all WIAA state playoffs were erased by the Covid-19 pandemic – the SPSL title – to Puyallup.

Back in 3A for the 2022 season, the Seahawks have those bigger aspirations on the horizon. And they are doing it with a core that will be together for some time, as well.

Peninsula boasts just one senior on the squad.

“It’s definitely cyclical,” Peninsula coach Mike Paul said. “A couple of years ago, we had this big, big group come in as freshmen. This year, we had 26 kids turn out, which is like the most we’ve ever had in my 10 years here. We’re building decent momentum.”

While still young, the leadership for this Peninsula group runs deep. That leadership does begin with that lone senior, however – Aislinn O’Reilly.

When she arrived at the Purdy school four years ago, O’Reilly was the only real pitcher Peninsula had on the roster.

“Even as a freshman on the varsity, I felt like I had a responsibility,” O’Reilly said. “It’s been really interesting to see the process of Peninsula building to this level.”

These days, O’Reilly is one of five arms Paul can confidently send into the circle. Also one of the Seahawks top offensive threats, on those days she’s not pitching O’Reilly can be found anchoring things defensively at first base.

O’Reilly’s ability to put the ball in play and regularly get on base precipitated a move in the lineup this season for the girl who drove in 32 runs in 17 games as a junior, when she batted .467 overall.

“We felt like we needed to bat her leadoff,” Paul said. “The ball is just always in play. But she also hits near .500. She hits for power. She is the aura of what we’ve built here.”

What Peninsula feels like it’s built is a program ready to contend for a state title come late May. At the very least, the Seahawks feel they have the team to add some softball hardware to the school’s trophy case.

If Peninsula were to bring home a trophy, it would be the program’s first. The Seahawks have made just five total trips to the state tournament since their first berth back in 1995, and they have failed to place in any of those five chances.

“We haven’t been to state in a decade,” Paul said. “So, the goal is to get there first. Then we’ll reassess and set a new goal. Our team is just a great, together team. And it takes a team to make a team. This is a strong a group as I’ve ever been able to coach.”

The cohesiveness of this group runs throughout, whether someone is playing on the varsity or junior varsity team.

“From the first day of tryouts, we just wanted to make everyone feel welcome,” Kimball said. “All of us are always bonding over something. Last year’s team was pretty cliquey. This year, we knew we needed to play as a team, talk as a team.”

As the Seahawks sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the standings for their break, they can take pride in the success that approach has wrought. And what the attitude could bring in both the near and distant futures.

“We now have so many talented players in the program,” O’Reilly said. “Peninsula is here to stay.”