Peninsula rallies past Gig Harbor with nine-run inning, remains undefeated in 3A SSC play
Add a back-and-forth rivalry win to Peninsula High School’s early undefeated run through Class 3A South Sound Conference play.
The Seahawks built a four-run lead in the first two innings, and later rallied from a two-run deficit with a nine-run fifth to eventually best visiting Gig Harbor, 16-8, on Monday afternoon.
“Just a team full of everyone who wants to win, honestly,” Peninsula ace Alli Kimball said of how the Seahawks rallied to remain perfect in 3A SSC contests. “We wanted that game. We wanted that game really bad.
“And we came in first inning just so hyped and ready for that, and then Gig Harbor … kind of just threw us for a loop when they scored all of those runs. So, it was really nice that we were able to come together for it.”
Gig Harbor put the first run on the board in the top of the first, when Montana-bound shortstop Riley Peschek crushed a solo home run to center.
Kimball, a Western Washington signee, was quick to respond for the Seahawks, sending a three-run home run to left in the first before the Tides recorded an out.
“It was an uplifter for the team, because Riley took her out on a changeup, and for her to come back and step up like that was monster,” Peninsula coach Mike Paul said.
“I feel like that really set the tone for us in the first inning,” Kimball said.
Peninsula added two more runs in the second on a throw out of play and a fielder’s choice from Malia Coit that extended the lead to 5-1.
Then Gig Harbor scored the next six runs.
Danielle Biehl doubled for the Tides in the third, and later scored on an outside pitch that hit the backstop, beating out the tag at home.
Erin Peterson led off the fourth for Gig Harbor with a solo home run to center, and the Tides scored once more in the frame on an error to close the gap to 5-4.
They took a 7-5 lead with one out in the fifth. Olivia Paul reached on an error to lead off the frame, and Peschek was intentionally walked two batters later.
Tides catcher Sarah Holland sent a go-ahead three-run homer well over the fence in left the next pitch for the last of Gig Harbor’s three home runs.
Glory Estabrook entered the game in relief at that point, retiring the next two batters, and tossed the final 2 2/3 to close out the game for Peninsula, allowing one run while striking out three. Kimball completed 4 1/3, striking out six and walking two.
Gig Harbor (4-4, 4-1 3A SSC) added one more run in the top of the seventh on a fielder’s choice from Peterson, though after the Seahawks took their decisive lead.
The Tides’ eight runs are the most Peninsula (8-2, 4-0) has allowed this season.
“They all went up there to hit the ball,” Paul said.
Peninsula took the lead for good in the fifth, sending 14 batters to the plate in an eventual nine-run frame.
The Seahawks combined for three hits and five walks in the inning against a pair of Tides pitchers and scored multiple runs on errors. Sofi Wood and Hailey Ruckle also drove in runs in the frame the second time through the lineup as Peninsula took a 14-7 lead.
Peninsula pushed the lead as high as 16-7 with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth before Gig Harbor answered.
The win extends the reigning 3A SSC champions’ current stretch of victories to four.
Peninsula entered the contest having shut out Central Kitsap, Yelm and Capital in consecutive games the final week of March, outscoring those first three 3A SSC opponents by a combined 38-0.
The Seahawks also have earlier wins over Auburn Mountainview and 4A programs Curtis, Federal Way and Decatur.
Their only two losses are to two of the state’s top 4A programs in Bothell and Jackson.
Monday’s loss was the first for Gig Harbor in 3A SSC play following wins over Capital, Yelm, North Thurston, River Ridge earlier this season.
The Tides host the second meeting against Peninsula on May 11.
This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 8:53 PM.
