The Spartans’ loss is definitely the Mariners’ gain.

After 11 seasons at the helm, Liz McCloskey has stepped down as the head coach of the Bainbridge High fastpitch softball team.

McCloskey said it was a difficult decision to make, but she resigned to devote more time to her professional career. McCloskey is the group events manager on the group sales team for the Seattle Mariners.

Her decision was a long time coming, she said.

“It was not a decision that came lightly, by any means,” she said. “It was definitely a difficult one.”

BHS Athletic Director Kaycee Taylor said McCloskey would be hard to replace.

“To find someone to fill Liz’s shoes is a huge endeavor,” Taylor said, and he recalled her positive influence on the Spartan sideline.

“You go and watch those games and you can see some fantastic learning and coaching going on,” he said, and added that McCloskey’s eventual replacement will need to carry on that legacy of success. “That’s the kind of coach I’m looking for.”

McCloskey guided the Spartans to nine straight trips to the state tournament as coach, including Bainbridge’s amazing romp through the 2009 season that ended with a 3A state championship title.

“I think we’ve built something that’s pretty special,” McCloskey said of the fastpitch program.

The rewards have gone well beyond the wins, the tournament victories and the state championship runs.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.

“For me, it’s the community and the kids, and watching the kids grow, not only when they graduate from us, but to see them become adults in the community and go on to do great things in college.”

McCloskey said she wouldn’t be stepping down if the team wasn’t in a good spot, and she added that she hopes the coaching staff will stay largely intact, with Assistant Coach Nicole Hebner and JV Coach Katie Leigh.

McCloskey and Taylor started talking about her departure in September, but McCloskey said it took a long time before she was actually able to write a letter of resignation.

Parents and players have been sad to hear the news, but McCloskey said she’ll be back to see the Spartans play.

“I’m not going to walk away from them completely; I will always be there for them,” she said.

McCloskey also noted she’ll continue to help out Hebner, head coach of the girls varsity basketball team, when hoops season returns this winter.