FASTPITCH: Kentlake’s Crowley is ‘game changer’ on diamond

She can slap the ball like Ichiro, but can leave the yard like Ken Griffey Jr., too.

But Kentlake outfielder Erin Crowley is hardly an offense-first player.

“I feel like defense is more important,” said the 18-year-old senior. “I have a team that can have a good offensive game if I am not hitting and we can still win.”

Of course, Crowley can do both. And do both well, with a bit of flair and like no other player in the South Puget Sound League North Division. A lanky lefthander, the Kentlake senior is as adept at dropping down a drag bunt for a single as she is at finding the gap for a double or triple.

Want power?

Crowley launched three taters last year. Yet, as good as the Falcon is offensively, Crowley is just as good — maybe even better — roaming center field, where few dare to challenge her golden left arm.

Simply put, when Crowley is on defense, it’s like having an additional player in the outfield, Kentlake coach Greg Kaas said.

“She can kill you in a lot of ways,” said Kaas, who is now in his 10th year with the program. “Ball in hand, bat in hand or on the bases. She’s dynamic.

“She’s a game changer.”

As much was evident during last year’s West Central District championship game against Puyallup. Leading the Vikings 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and the bases loaded, Crowley snared a deep fly ball in the left-center gap. In one motion, she turned and gunned down Puyallup’s Amber Tomlinson at the plate.

Rally over.

Crisis averted.

“That was the highlight to my season,” admitted Crowley, who will play next year at Seattle University.

But Crowley wasn’t done with the big play. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate, belting a triple and scoring a run in the 3-1 victory. As good as Crowley was, however, the North Division’s co-MVP last year still has some unfinished business. That business being the state tournament, where the Falcons were unceremoniously eliminated in two games last spring. With Crowley back in fold along with more all-league returners (6) than any other team in the SPSL North other than Tahoma, which also has six, the Falcons have plans of a big finish.

“Our ultimate goal is to make it to state,” said Crowley, who hit .559 last season with 23 runs scored and finished a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen-base attempts. “But we want to make it further than we did last year,”

Along the way, however, the Falcons also want to take out Tahoma. Kentlake and Tahoma tied last year for the top spot in the North, both finishing with 15-1 league marks. The tiebreaker as to which team took the higher seed to the playoffs was decided by a coin flip.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a bad feeling to finish in first, but it kind of sucked having to share it with somebody,” Crowley said. “We would have rather played for the title. This year, we want to prove that we’re better.”

The Falcons certainly have the depth and talent to get it done, though the same can also be said for the Bears. Adding to the depth behind Crowley will be second baseman Jessie Richardson (.447 batting average last year), shortstop Erika Smyth (22 runs scored), outfielder Lexi Engman (.421), third baseman Kellie Nielsen (.500), pitcher Hannah Sauget (1.15 ERA), catcher Brittany Styger (15 RBIs), first baseman Libby Reihl (13 RBIs) and outfielder Ashlee Buch among others.

That supporting cast helped Crowley lead the SPSL North with 27 runs batted in last season — as a leadoff hitter.

“That’s ridiculous,” Kaas exclaimed.

Indeed. And it’s as much of a credit to Crowley’s talent level as it is to the quality of players that fall behind her in the batting order.

“She’s an absolute stud,” said Auburn Riverside coach Chris Leverenz.

One who can beat opponents with her bat.

Her legs.

And, of course, her glove.

FALCONS: AT A GLANCE

• COACH: Greg Kaas, 10th year.

• LAST YEAR: 15-1 in league (tied for first), 23-3 overall.

• TOP RETURNERS: Hannah Sauget, jr., pitcher; Brittany Styger, sr., catcher; Jessie Richardson, sr., second base; Erin Crowley, sr., outfield; Erika Smyth, sr., shortstop; Kellie Nielsen, so., third base; Lexi Engman,jr., outfield; Libby Reihl, so., first base; Ashlee Buch, sr., outfield.

• TOP NEWCOMERS: Allieigha Robinson, so., pitcher; Maddie Brown, jr., outfield; Brittany Jacobsen, jr., third base/catcher.

• OUTLOOK: In a program that prides itself on tradition, this group fits the bill as another team that should challenge for a league title and a state berth. Anything less than a top two finish would be a surprise for the Falcons, who should be playing in the state tournament at season’s end.

• LAST STATE APPEARANCE: 2010. Kentlake has advanced to state in six of the last seven years.