Meadowdale’s Brooke hits HR to give Mavs win over GP

LYNNWOOD — A duel between two of the best pitchers in Wesco did not disappoint on Tuesday. For eight innings Meadowdale’s Alyssa Reuble and Glacier Peak’s Callie Bircher traded zeroes on the scoreboard. But with the prospect of the international tiebreaker looming, the Mavericks finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth.

Ashley Brooke hit a walk-off three-run home run as the Mavericks beat Glacier Peak 3-0 to seize control of the Wesco 3A South.

“It was the last chance to make it happen,” said Meadowdale head coach Dennis Hopkins about his team’s final at-bat. “We didn’t want to go into the international tiebreaker.”

After Reuble retired the Grizzlies in order in the top of the ninth, Tiffany DeWayne and Reuble each singled to start the bottom of the frame. After Rebecca Wright’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners to second and third, Brooke tagged Bircher’s first pitch over the fence in right-center field.

Up until the home half of the ninth, both pitchers dominated. The Mavericks had advanced a runner into scoring position in just two innings, while the Grizzlies had only one hit to their credit: a single from Jocelyn Matheny in the seventh.

Each pitcher finished with eight strikeouts and both exhibited stellar control. Reuble allowed just one walk, while Bircher issued no free passes.

“Reuble was able to keep them in check,” said Hopkins. “We seemed to play magnet ball, hitting it right to fielders and Bircher had a killer changeup.” The win leaves Meadowdale as the only undefeated team in league play in the Wesco 3A South. The Mavericks also now have victories over the Grizzlies, as well as Shorecrest, the other two teams that figure to challenge Meadowdale for the league title.

At Meadowdale H.S.

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Callie Bircher and Nina Kim. Alyssa Reuble and Rebecca Wright. WP—Reuble (6-1). LP—Bircher. 2B—Reuble. HR—Ashley Brooke (M). Records—Glacier Peak 2-2 league, 6-4 overall. Meadowdale 3-0, 7-1.