FORKS — Forks youth softball players and best friends Jayden Olson and Rian Peters almost need to be pulled off the diamond kicking and screaming.
The pair, each 13 and wrapping up seventh grade at Forks Middle School, have been battery mates since they were 8 years old.
“They play on the Forks Spartans 12U and 14U traveling teams together and have T-shirts that say ‘I’m the Pitcher, Rian is the Catcher’ and ‘Jayden is the Pitcher and I’m the Catcher,’” Jake Peters, Rian’s dad, said.
In April, the pair ventured to Federal Way for tryouts for the United States Specialty Sports Association, or USSSA, USA National Elite Select Team tryouts.
The USSSA is the governing body for the sport of softball and 12 other sports in the United States.
Olson and Peters were among more than 150 players evaluated on their hitting, running, throwing, fielding and pitching for a roster spot on the Northwest Region team at the first USA Elite Select All American Games.
This tournament of teams representing different regions of the country, will be held from July 13-16 in Kissimmee, Fla., at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports and the Osceola Softball Complex.
Since they received word they made the team, the pair has been hard at work raising funds for the cross-country trip.
“They’ve tried everything for fundraising,” Jake Peters said.
“The one that does the best is a little bake sale at [Forks Outfitters] Thriftway, but they can only do that one once a month because other groups deserve their shot.”
Now, with the tournament a little more than a month away, the girls are still seeking activities in exchange for donations.
“One thing the girls do as a team, they will go out provide a service in exchange for a donation so they are being taught the value of money and not just asking for a handout,” Jake Peters said.
“They’ve washed log trucks or tow trucks, they’ve weeded a lumberyard and mown some lawns. They are serious about this.”
Olson and Peters are just as serious on the diamond.
When the girls were 10 they played on the Forks 10U team that won the state softball tournament in 2013.
“They won the state in Othello in the heat and regionals in Meridian, Idaho,” Jake Peters said.
“But at the 10U they don’t have a World Series.”
Olson’s pitching helps Forks’ 12U and 14U softball teams go head-to-head in tournament play against better-funded teams from the Seattle-Tacoma area.
“The girls go out and put a whupping on them,” Jake Peters said of knocking off teams such as the Seattle Spice, a team with a $6,000 registration fee.
“It’s pretty fun, mismatched gear bags and all.”
The pitcher and catcher play a pivotal role in those wins.
“A big part of those is Jayden’s pitching always helps keep the score down,” Peters said.
“If we aren’t hitting well, we can depend on her arm.
“And at-bat, Jayden sprays the ball. She’s a contact hitter and can bloop them in and find the outfield gaps.”
Rian Peters has a strong arm as well, but her arm strength shows up in different ways.
“What she does really well is have these fast snap throws to first, second and third,” Jake Peters said.
“She’s gunned out like 12 people in one day at tournaments. She throws out a lot of people.”
Her skills at the plate also are impressive.
“Rian has a power bat and can hit home runs in college fields,” Jake Peters said.
“She runs pretty well for a catcher and can leg out some deep hits.”
The girls also play volleyball and both are on the Port Angeles Storm AAU basketball team.
But they still get their softball work in during those seasons.
“They never miss pitching clinics during volleyball and basketball,” Jake Peters said.
To setup jobs for the girls to complete, or to directly donate to the duo’s trip to Florida, phone Shauna Peters at 360-640-2464, or email shauna1572@aol.com.
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
