<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) For the Enterprise/ Jeff Faddis Shorewood's Ashley Salazar (9) waves to her grandfather while shaking hands with Olivia Jacobs (16) after Salazar hit a home run in the 3rd inning of a varsity game against Shorecrest, Friday, April 24, 2009 at Shorewood High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) For the Enterprise/Jeff Faddis Shorewood pitcher Olivia Jacobs (16) pitches to Shorecrest during a varsity match up against Shorecrest, Friday, April 24, 2009 at Shorewood High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) For the Enterprise/Jeff Faddis Shorewood's first basewomen Kendra Holly (18) catches a ball for an out at first base during a varsity match up against Shorecrest, Friday, April 24, 2009 at Shorewood High School in Shoreline. (click to enlarge) Jeff Faddis/For the Enterprise Shorewood center fielder Chloe Pope-Levison (5) makes a play on the ball during the first inning of a varsity match up against Shorecrest, Friday, April 24, 2009 at Shorewood High School in Shoreline.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

T-birds whip Scots, stay atop league with 10-0 win

By Tony Dondero
Enterprise reporter

SHORELINE

Shorewood's Amanda Olsen and Ashley Salazar belted home runs to lead an 11-hit attack as the Thunderbirds shut out crosstown rival Shorecrest 10-0 April 24 at Shorewood High School.

Shorewood won by shutout for the fourth time in a row and remained tied for first in the Western Conference South Division with Jackson with a 9-1 record, 9-3 overall.

Olsen, a junior second baseman, hit her sixth career home run, a three-run shot to deep left in the bottom of the second inning off Shorecrest pitcher Rachel Desrosier to make the score 5-0.

"It was right down the middle, she made a mistake," Olsen said. "It was very intense. We underestimate a lot of teams and they come back. I thought that was going to happen today, but it didn't."

Olsen also had a bunt single and scored one of two Shorewood runs in the first inning. Salazar socked a solo home run in the third and high-fived her grandfather, Ben Mitchell, as he stood behind the back stop after touching home plate.

Chloe Pope-Levison knocked in two runs with a two-out triple in the fourth and scored on a error later in the inning for the T-birds 10th run, which put the 10-run mercy rule in effect.

Shorewood pitcher Olivia Jacobs had a no-hitter with one out to go in the fifth but Jessica Nolan singled to center to break it up.

Despite throwing a one-hitter, Jacobs said it wasn't her best effort.

"I was frustrated. I don't think it was my best game. I wasn't impressed with myself," she said.

The T-birds' parade gave Jacobs plenty of help though.

"The whole team (hit)," Jacobs said. "It was really nice to have that cushion."

Shorewood played at Edmonds-Woodway after Enterprise deadlines on Tuesday before facing second-place Mountlake Terrace at home Friday, May 1. The Hawks handed Shorewood its only league loss, 8-0 March 31 at Mountlake Terrace.

"I think mentally preparing to hit is our biggest issue," Jacobs said. "I think last time we played Terrace I struggled a little bit so I know I'm going to be better this time."

The Hawks ace pitcher Kori Seidlitz has thrown several no-hitters this year.

"We have to prepare for fast pitching and rise balls," said Salazar, a senior third baseman. "It's more mental than anything else.

Shorecrest has no upperclassmen on its roster and fell to 0-10 in the league and 0-12 overall.

"I saw them not giving up and fighting until the end," Shorecrest coach Janessa Karstens said. "That's the goal for the season so with Jessica being able to get that hit in the last inning that's doing what they could do to stay in it, work hard and not give up."

Shorewood beat Shorecrest 17-4 in the first meeting so allowing seven fewer runs was an improvement, she said.

"Each inning is another inning of experience," Karstens said. "We are still working on constant improvement."