Just like they do on the fastpitch field, Bothell High’s girls support each other when they’re up to bat at the interview plate.

Last Thursday at practice, seniors Kendra Heyer and Savannah Rose and junior Sammy Morris shared the load while describing their Cougar team to the Reporter. They all fed off each other’s comments and often finished each other’s sentences when talking fastpitch and friendship.

Fourth-year Bothell coach Rob Luckey has an insightful and talented crew on his hands.

Heyer, an all-4A Kingco center fielder last year and La Salle University (Philadelphia, Pa.) signee, notes that Luckey describes the team as having a “calm intensity,” which has gotten them off to a 8-3 overall start at press time.

“We’re not an overly loud team in games, we stay focused and we’re really good at just calming down when we need to,” said Heyer, adding that the team has bonded well and is full of laughter, too.

“That will take you farther than any type of skill will — team chemistry. And we’ve got the skill to back it up, so it’s just even that much better.”

Added Morris, the team’s lefty leadoff hitter and shortstop: “We’re not getting overconfident and (we’re) keeping our cool, even though we are a good team. We keep it pretty intense, but (don’t) freak ourselves out with too much pressure. We stay focused towards our goals, but we still have a good time.”

The team goal, according to Heyer, is to make it to the state tournament. She said the Cougars have a good chance at doing that since they possess 11 varsity returners and only graduated one starter from last year’s 15-9 squad.

Bothell’s top returners, along with Heyer, Morris and Rose (pitcher, infielder), are juniors Camille Weisenbach (four homers this year), Arista Honey (catcher), Allie Vick (left fielder) and Ama Magalei (first baseman); and sophomores Kelsie Morgan (second baseman) and Julia Warner (pitcher).

Junior Abi Bittle and sophomore Kat Balyeat round out the pitching crew this season.

“I just think we’ve got a lot to offer, we’ve got a really deep lineup,” Heyer said.

“If one person gets hurt, we’re not in trouble. We’ve got plenty of people to back us up, and I think that’s really hard to come by for a high-school team.”

Added Rose, a Chapman University (Orange, Calif.) signee on playing for Bothell: “The girls have been really encouraging, really welcoming. It’s a lot of fun having all the different grades on varsity.”

Thus far, the girls have been making an impact in all aspects of the game, especially at the plate, Luckey said.

“We’ve been hitting the ball like crazy,” he said. In the first five Kingco games, Heyer (.667), Morris (.625), Weisenbach (.588) and Honey (.563) have led the way.

“And we’re playing some really good defense,” said Luckey, adding that the girls are playing in honor of Tim Driver, former assistant coach who passed away last year.

“We have T-shirts that say, ‘We are Driven.’ It’s tough, but we still talk about him and think about him, that’s been our motivating saying this year.”

Coach Luckey’s Corner:

On Heyer —

“Kendra is an athlete (she’s lettered in basketball, soccer and softball). She didn’t just letter, she played really well. She’s a great person to be around, she’s a competitor, she loves to laugh, she’s just been a joy to this program. She’s one of the reasons that we really want to do well — she’s really been a dedicated Bothell High School athlete.”

On Rose —

“She carried us as a sophomore in the (pitcher’s) circle, she battled for us last year at third base and in the circle. She’s a hitter, she’s a competitor. She’s playing through shin splints, and I’m so proud of her for coming out here and not complaining.”

(Heyer played through a sprained ankle this season.) “Those are the kind of kids that we look up to. They want to leave here with a bang.”

On Morris —

“She played JV freshman year for about a day: We saw right away that she was just a really strong athletic girl, and she’s been in our leadoff spot ever since. Her on-base percentage is about .700.

She’s just a threat. She is literally the battery that gets us going.”