With one slip of the glove, it looked as if the Pirates might have the kind of luck to snap their losing streak.
But Olympic had other plans.
After vanquishing Peninsula 10-0 in the opening game on April 7, Olympic’s Rangers held a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. That’s when, with a runner on, Pirate slugger Marquita Espinoza drove a ball deep that O.C. center fielder Natalie Peapea had in her glove for an instant, then dropped for a home run.
It was Espinoza’s fifth homer of the season and tied the game at 2-2.
Seeking revenge in the top of the seventh, Peapea slammed a three-run home run, her third hit of the game, for a 5-2 Olympic win.
The loss sends Peninsula to the team’s eighth loss in a row.
In the opener, Olympic sophomore Erika Quint, a Central Kitsap grad, held the Pirates to just five hits, striking out 14 and walking just one.
Ashley Lowe-Thaens and Bethany Holt each had two hits in the loss as the Pirates left two runners aboard in the first, third and sixth innings.
Peapea and Amy Renfrow blasted home runs for the Rangers.
In game two, the Pirates and Rangers each had nine hits. Holt and Tasha Taylor each had two hits and Laura Campbell added a double for Peninsula.
Quint earned the win in both games while P.C. starter Carly Swingle took both losses.
Espinoza is one home run away from the school record for a season (six), set by Kayla Ralston in 2007.
Bulldogs bite Pirates
Bellevue held Peninsula to just three hits in two games, sweeping a doubleheader in Bellevue on April 11 by scores of 8-0 and 9-0.
The Bulldogs hit four home runs in the first game.
The losses send Peninsula to their ninth and 10th losses in a row.
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
North Division
standings
(as of April 13)
Team Conf. Over.
Shoreline 7-1 14-8
Everett 5-1 8-11
Olympic 5-3 10-6
Bellevue 4-2 10-6
Skagit Valley 1-3 1-9
Peninsula 2-8 2-17
Edmonds 0-6 0-13