MOUNT VERNON — Jared Cogar threw a complete game with nine strikeouts and one walk — and added a two-run single and a double at the plate — to help Monroe clinch a district berth with a Wesco 4A victory on Wednesday.
With the win, Monroe joins Lake Stevens, Jackson and Cascade at 7-7 in league play and clinched a playoff spot. If the Bearcats lost, they would have had to play Kamiak in a tiebreaker game to get into the district bracket.
Monroe is the No. 5 seed and will play at No. 4 Cascade at 1 p.m. on Saturday. To determine seeding for districts, the four teams’ records against each other were taken into account. Lake Stevens (4-2 against Cascade, Jackson and Monroe) earned the No. 3 seed and will host sixth-seeded Jackson (2-4). Monroe and Cascade both finished 3-3, so the result of a preseason draw was used.
“Our kids are very excited and our staff is very proud of them,” Monroe coach Eric Chartrand said. “We’re not just focused on being at the playoffs, but making a run.”
Chartrand said Cogar’s command powered him to the big win on the mound against the Bulldogs.
“He was just the horse that we expect him to be,” Chartrand said. “He was able to locate all of his pitches.”
Mount Vernon coach Tony Wolden said the Bulldogs had opportunities late in the game but couldn’t capitalize.
“He slowed down a little bit after we got our runs in the fourth,” Wolden said. “We were knocking on the door in the fifth and seventh innings, but weren’t able to get clutch hits. They played good defense for him.”
Even with the loss, Mount Vernon clinched the No. 2 seed and accompanying first-round bye. The Bulldogs and Snohomish, the league champs, await their next opponents. Mount Vernon will host the winner of Cascade-Monroe and the Panthers face the winner of Lake Stevens-Jackson.
Cogar drove in Monroe’s first two runs in the top of the first inning with a base hit up the middle after Andrew Chartrand’s sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third.
Monroe added another run in the third when Chartrand advanced from first to third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a two-out single by catcher Eric Pino.
“Andrew applies pressure to any team any time he’s on the bases,” said his father, coach Eric Chartrand. “They were trying to defend against him running, and when the ball gets down the line he’s going to get to third every time.”
At Sherman Anderson Field
Monroe2010000—371
Mount Vernon0002000—272
Jared Cogar and Eric Pino. Allen Beath, Tim Cummings (4) and Gabe Beuckman. WP—Cogar. LP—Beath (2-2). 2B—Cogar (M). Records—Monroe 7-7 league, 9-10 overall. Mount Vernon 8-6, 12-8.
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