Community Sports
Sports Beat | Peninsula aces its test against Gig Harbor
A big showdown between local volleyball teams on Thursday, Oct. 10, started with Peninsula’s Lauren Sievers serving an ace right down the middle of the court. The rest of the night went just about as well for Peninsula, which defeated Gig Harbor 3-1.
The Seahawks (5-5) took control in the first game behind the effective serving of Kate Cardinal, who ripped off six straight serves that proved difficult for the Tides (3-7) to return. When they did return them, Peninsula’s 6-foot-2 Ziah Sneva was high over the net to block the Tides.
Peninsula’s comfortable game-one win set the stage for a thrilling second game. Gig Harbor outside hitter Maggie Maharry was the serving star in this one, as she provided an impressive array of jump serves that cleared the net before diving for the corners or sidelines.
Peninsula hung tough with some blasts from Sarah Hurn, who stepped up in place of middle blocker Emma Young, who was on the sidelines in a walking boot. Hurn, Sneva and sophomore Leah Schmidt controlled the net in the second game, which the Seahawks won narrowly. But the Tides were building momentum behind the athleticism of Bridget Bender, who swatted several cross-court winners.
The Peninsula volleyball team was all smiles after its 3-1 win over Gig Harbor. Photo courtesy Peninsula High volleyball
Tides steal a game
That momentum paid off in Game 3, as the Tides moved quicker to the ball and passed with greater efficiency. Gig Harbor junior outside hitter Ellie Hawkins was effective with her overall game and freshman Kylie Goranson had a few key blocks. Maharry finished the Seahawks with a few cross-court winners.
Sneva wouldn’t be denied in the fourth game. The senior, who signed to play at Washington State University, controlled the net and also showed her creativity with a couple of well-placed back-row shots to open spaces.
Sneva leads Peninsula with 65 kills, 19 blocks, and a .246 hitting percentage.
Peninsula is in fourth in the Nisqually Division of the Puget Sound League. The Seahawks play at Bellarmine Prep on Oct. 16 while the Tides host Lakes the same night.
Peninsula’s Higgins wins XC invitational
The Gig Harbor girls team won the 28th John Payne Cross Country Invitational with 142 points, defeating second-place Issaquah on Oct. 5. Gig Harbor’s Taylor Sletner finished fifth, Lejla Carlsson 12th, and sisters Ruby and Ella Savage 46th and 48th.
The individual event winner was Peninsula senior Elektra Higgins, who cleared the field by eight seconds in an electric time of 17:00.7. She ran the 5,000 meters (3.107 miles) in an outstanding time to dominate competitors from 25 schools.
Elektra Higgins of Peninsula won the John Payne Cross Country Invitational by eight seconds. Photo courtesy of PHS cross country
The Gig Harbor boys finished third, led by senior Joey Campbell’s 14th place finish in 16 minutes flat. Gavin McKeegan was 17th and sophomore Joshua Minner 22nd.
The Tides teams are led by former Tide star Patty Lea, who had a storied high school and college career as a top distance runner and has won multiple state titles as a Gig Harbor coach.
Tides’ offense gets rolling
The Gig Harbor (2-3, 1-1 Narrows division) football team turned in an impressive Homecoming performance against Silas on Oct. 4, racking up 376 yards of total offense in a 40-12 victory.
Tides wide receiver DJ Darling was the offensive star early. He scored the game’s first two touchdowns after taking short passes from quarterback Sawyer Hayes and weaving his way through traffic to the end zone.
DJ Darling of Gig Harbor makes one of his eight catches against Silas. Photo by Christi Adams
Darling, who has more moves than U-Haul, juked Ram defenders during an impressive 45-yard touchdown and scored again on a 33-yard catch-and-run on the ensuing possession. He finished with eight catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns and certainly makes the Tides more explosive after battling through an early-season injury.
Equally impressive was Tides tailback Ryland Geldermann, who gained 130 yards on just 13 carries with two touchdowns. Hayes, a freshman, had his best night of the season statistically, completing 14 of 26 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns from a protected pocket.
Defense applies pressure
The Tides also got exceptional defensive line play from the bruise brothers Keegan Johnson and Peyton Howard. The defensive tackles met at the quarterback repeatedly in the second half to stall Ram drives. They left the Rams quarterback to wonder aloud, “can anybody block these guys?”
Ryland Geldermann scored two touchdown against Silas. Photo by Christi Adams
The answer was, “not really.” Each had five tackles, with Johnson tallying a sack and three tackles for loss and Howard two sacks and two tackles for loss. The Tides also got pressure on the quarterback from junior Ethan Trader, who is coming on strong with two sacks and three tackles for loss.
The 28-point win was the Tides’ most complete of the season. Gig Harbor’s postseason hopes hinge on two upcoming road games: against Central Kitsap (2-3, 1-1) in Silverdale on Oct. 11 and at Mount Tahoma (1-4, 0-2) on Oct. 18.
Peninsula running back dominates North Thurston
Peninsula (2-3, 1-1) earned a lopsided 48-14 victory at North Thurston on Oct. 4 behind the running of Kobe Dejohnette.
The Seahawks scored early after a diving interception by Nehemiah Grandorff and an impressive 26-yard touchdown run by Dejohnette, who has been turning heads lately. The elusive runner lowered his pads and ran over a Ram to get in the end zone as Peninsula took a 7-0 lead.
After a 32-yard punt return by Jacob Martin, the Seahawks scored again on Dejohnette’s untouched five yard counter over the left side.
The Seahawks stuffed the Rams on fourth down on the goal line following a long drive. Dejohnette did the rest, taking an inside handoff through the line, cutting back to the middle and turning on the jets for a 95-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
The Seahawks scored again before halftime when quarterback Mana Smythe fired a perfect 28-yard pass to receiver Trever Bingham, who ran a deceptive post pattern to get open.
The Rams mustered a couple second-half touchdowns but never threatened the Seahawks, who face Lakes (5-0, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Roy Anderson Field.
Soccer teams steamrolling opponents
Both local girls soccer teams continue cutting through opponents like a lawn mower at Sehmel Park.
Peninsula (8-1, 7-0 Puget Sound League Nisqually Division) got a nice 2-0 home win over River Ridge on Oct. 8. The Seahawks controlled the ball early and got their first goal 14 minutes in from forward Nora Sutherland, who has found the nets consistently this season. Peninsula scored again when the ball bounced around the box a bit before Kaylee Dastrup smacked it past the Hawk keeper.
Maya Rogers of Peninsula. Photo by Dennis Browne
The Seahawks just might have one of the best front lines in the state. The foursome of Sutherland, Hailey Shride, Ella Coates and Maya Rogers are all talented scorers who complement one another. A young but aggressive defensive back line is led by the smooth Ella Lee and the physical presence of Sierra Bierman and Ada Labowitz in front of a capable goalie in Brooklyn Finch. First-year head coach Jose Brambila’s Seahawks are No. 2 in the WIAA’s Class 3A RPI rankings.
Current RPI Top 10 Rankings for Fall Soccer ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ktmcMbV27y
— WIAA (@wiaawa) October 9, 2024
Tides stay on Seahawks’ heels
Gig Harbor (8-1-1, 7-0-1) isn’t far behind, coming in at No. 5. They are also atop the Puget Sound League’s Narrows Division following their 4-1 win over Silas on Oct. 8.
Forwards Elizabeth Hayes and Sage Sturrock each scored two goals against Silas.
The Tides defeated Lincoln 8-1 on Oct. 10 as they racked up points like a loose pinball machine.
Gig Harbor and Peninsula will probably face each other at Roy Anderson Field soon. A series of crossover games between Nisqually and Narrows division schools are scheduled after the regular season ends, with opponents and game times yet to be determined.
Gig Harbor is No. 5 in the WIAA’s RPI rankings. Photo courtesy of Gig Harbor soccer
But first the Tides must get by Mount Tahoma on Oct. 15 at home and then play a rematch at Central Kitsap on Oct. 17. Gig Harbor and CK played to a scoreless tie on Oct. 1.
Peninsula hosts North Thurston at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Roy Anderson Field followed by a crucial game for the Nisqually title against Lakes (8-1-2, 6-1-1) in Lakewood on Oct. 15.