The Sumner High fastpitch squad got the year off on the right foot when it hosted Yelm March 18 and snuffed out the Tornadoes 6-5. It was a split for the week, when SHS took the bus to North Thurston Friday and fell 7-6.

Sumner averted extra innings against Yelm when, with the score knotted at five going into the bottom of the seventh stanza, the Spartans managed a run. In that nailbiter, Sumner senior slinger Katie Littlefield notched 10 strikeouts to help thwart Yelm. Kari Hester and Nicole Woolever each collected two hits.

Sumner had more than enough offense to beat North Thurston, outhitting the Rams 10-7, but the pitching department issued four free passes and the Spartans booted the ball all over the diamond for five errors.

“Our defense needs to be more consistent in order for us to compete,” SHS coach Kim Fergus said.

Fergus may have come across a diamond in the rough in freshman Megan Anderson, who plays in the outfield and is also the only other windmill on the mound besides Littlefield. Playing outfield against North Thurston, Anderson went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and four RBI, while Mandy Humphries and Dani Babcock each had two hits.

Sumner played Enumclaw Tuesday, with results coming too late to post here, travels to Peninsula today, Wednesday, and takes on Clover Park Friday. All games are slated for 4 p.m.

Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierhearld.com or 360-802-8207.