Dolphins Softball Fighting to Make the Playoffs

Josh Novy

Sports Editor

With 10 games left in the season, the Shoreline Community College Dolphins softball team needs a late season hot streak to make the playoffs

At 12-12 in league play this season, 13-15 overall, they trail fourth place Olympic College (14-10 in league) by two games for the fourth and final playoff berth.

The Dolphins have been up and down for most of the season. A four-game winning streak earlier this season with double-header sweeps over Skagit Valley and Highline, was immediately followed with a three-game losing streak. This type of inconsistent play is a major reason for the teams 12-12 league play record.

“We have a very young team made up of mostly freshman,” Athletic Director Ken Burrus said. “Freshman-filled teams are always going to be inconsistent. When they play well, they can beat anyone. All of the freshmen are very talented and the sophomores are providing a lot of leadership and are very talented as well.”

The Dolphins showed just how much fight they have left in them in their thrilling double-header series against fourth-place Olympic. In a series that was filled with extra innings and dramatic moments, the Dolphins went from heartbreak to overwhelming celebration.

Game 1 was tight throughout the entire game. After seven innings (a regulation game) of play, the game was tied 1-1 and headed to extra innings. In the eighth, both teams went scoreless.

In the top half of the ninth inning, the Dolphins almost made it out of the inning with the score intact. But with two outs and one runner on base, Jamie Heins hit a clutch two-run homer to give Olympic the lead. The Dolphins were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the ninth, suffering a tough 3-1 defeat.

The Dolphins had little time to let the loss sink in, as they still had to play Game 2 of the double-header right after.

Game 2 proved to be even more dramatic and exciting than the first game.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh and the Dolphins final at-bats, it looked as if they had not recovered from the disappointment of Game 1. They trailed 9-4 and Olympic seemed to be just moments away from the sweep.

Freshman Allison Keith gave the Dolphins a little bit of life with a solo home run to bring the team within four runs at 9-5. After a base hit by Maki Moore and a couple of walks, the Dolphins had the bases loaded and the tying run coming to the plate.

Freshman Erica Benson headed to the batters box. With two outs, down by four runs, Benson crushed a game-tying grand slam.

“It was a shot,” Burrus said. “I don’t know where it went. It still might be rolling.”

The game headed to extra innings. In the eighth and ninth, both teams went scoreless. Starting in the 10th inning, softball rules mandate that the innings must begin with a runner already on second base. Olympic failed to score in their half of the 10th.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Dolphins automatic runner on second was thrown out at third base. After single and passed ball, the winning run was sitting on second base. With two outs, sophomore Jenni Morrison lined a game-winning single to cap off the Dolphins dramatic comeback win 10-9.

This win keeps the Dolphins right in the playoff chase.

“We’re hoping they can continue to play well the last half and make the playoffs,” Burrus said. “They’re right in the hunt.”

Catch the Dolphins playoff Chase in action with home double-headers May 6 at 1 p.m. against Peninsula and May 13 at 1 p.m. against Green River.