Despite going 1-2 in contests throughout the week, Yelm High School’s baseball program is building confidence after its recent matchups against Gig Harbor and Port Angeles.
The team took away many positives from the games and looks to build upon the losses as South Sound Conference action kicks into high gear.
The Tornados’ most recent game, a 3-2 loss to Port Angeles, took place at YHS on Saturday, March 23. Yelm trailed the contest 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, but thanks to efforts from sophomores Wesley Thompson and Parker Myers and junior Wyatt Robison, the Tornados tied the contest at two-apiece going into the final frame of the non-league matchup.
Thompson crossed home plate to score Yelm’s first run of the game after an RBI single from Robison. Myers, who reached base after a walk, stole second base before reaching third on Robison’s single and eventually stole home to tie the contest at two.
“Our comeback efforts started with a bunt, putting pressure on teams. Pressure bursts pipes. From there, it was just a little bit of base running. The boys were working their butts off. Wyatt Robison did a good job of taking extra bases and forcing a balk. It’s really hard to force a balk, but he got in their heads,” head coach Dakota Hill said. “Parker sent it on first and third there. It doesn’t always have to be big hits. It can be base running. People don’t realize that, and I’m proud of our boys for utilizing that against Port Angeles.”
Myers took the mound in the seventh inning, and despite allowing a leadoff single, he quickly recorded two outs via fielder’s choice and a groundout. He nearly got out of the inning clean, but a fielding error in the Tornados infield allowed Port Angeles to regain the lead, 3-2.
“It was a tough one, but we’ll learn from it, and we’ll get better from it. That’s a really good ball club up there, too. They’re top of their league usually, and they were fun to play today,” Hill said. “I thought our at-bats were all right. [You] just need to make plays and make sure you’re behind your teammates. Part of that is you’re going to make a mistake, too, and you’d want that teammate to be there for you, too.”
The Tornados pitching staff had its best showing of the season against Port Angeles, so far, after six games. Though the Roughriders scored three runs in the contest, only one was an earned run. Sophomore pitcher Quillen Hadley got the start on the mound, and Yelm later turned to relief pitchers Austin Richardson, Jack Verone, Ace Youckton and Myers from the bullpen.
“We’ve been on (the pitchers) about throwing strikes consistently. Quillen Hadley got through three innings on 30 pitches, and you can’t ask for much more. He was very efficient. Our defense was good, too,” Hill said. “Jack (Verone) wasn’t his sharpest, but he still pitched very well, and we probably could’ve played better defense behind him while he was out there. Austin Richardson, Ace (Youckton) and Parker Myers were pretty good, too, coming out of the pen.”
The coach added that the team has options for relief arms, stating that the Tornados have seven players who can come out of the bullpen.
“It’s a luxury, and I can trust them all to throw strikes,” Hill said.
The Tornados hit the road on Tuesday, March 19, and took on the Gig Harbor Tides in the first of back-to-back matchups against their SSC rivals. Gig Harbor defeated Yelm, 14-4, at Sehmel Homestead Park.
The Tornados responded in a big way by defeating Gig Harbor, 6-5, concluding the regular season series with the Tides on Wednesday, March 20, at home.
“The boys are really coming together. I want to go back to Tuesday’s game where we got 10-runned by Gig Harbor, and then came back on Wednesday to beat them. That is such mental fortitude from these guys, and I’m super proud of them for that,” Hill said. “It can be really easy to tuck your tail the second day when you don’t have a day to reset. I was super proud of them with the win against Gig. It was fantastic work.”
The Tornados returned to conference action at home on Tuesday, March 26, and on the road on Wednesday, March 27, against SSC rivals, Timberline. Results from both contests weren’t available as of press time.
Yelm will travel to Rochester High School for a 4:30 p.m. matchup with the Warriors on Friday, March 29. This marks the Tornados’ final non-conference matchup of the 2024 season. They’ll return to SSC action again on Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2, against conference opponent Peninsula. Both matchups will occur at 4 p.m.
“You expect to win all of the league matchups,” Hill said. “That has to be the expectation every day — show up to the yard ready to win. If we don’t, what are we here for? That belief, that competitiveness is important. I thought our competitiveness was fantastic today, huge props to the boys.”
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