Hoskins leads Lake Stevens baseball to regionals

EVERETT — The Lake Stevens baseball team manufactured one run in the bottom of the first inning.

For the next four innings, it looked like that might be it as far as scoring in the Vikings’ 4A District 1 loser-out game against Monroe.

Lake Stevens pitcher Nick Hoskins and Monroe’s Alex Spahman battled the rest of the way, with Hoskins and the Vikings clinching a berth in next week’s regional with a 4-1 victory Saturday morning at Everett Memorial Stadium.

The Vikings’ starter allowed just one run, one hit and struck out 10 batters in a complete game for Lake Stevens.

“I know (Hoskins) wanted Thursday night’s game (against Snohomish) really, really bad,” said Lake Stevens coach Rodger Anderson. “But there was no way, with as much as he threw (in the Vikings’ district opener) against Jackson. We wanted to save him for today. And he was strong. I’m glad we did it.”

Hoskins didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning. The senior allowed just four baserunners the entire game, with two walks, one hit and one runner reaching on an error.

“Tip your cap to Hoskins. He was really good today,” said Monroe head coach Eric Chartrand. “He came out on a big stage and did a good job. Spahman kept us right in the ballgame. Both pitchers were really good.”

Spahman struck out nine in the contest and, apart from a wild pitch that scored a run in the first inning, cruised until the fifth. Another wild pitch allowed a second run to score and Lake Stevens added two more in the bottom of the sixth before senior Tyler Koontz came in to get the final out of the inning.

“Spahman came out and pitched a great game,” Anderson said. “He kept us off balance. We hit him pretty hard earlier in the season and he pitched his guts out. You’ve got to hand it to him. He’s got a big heart.”

The senior right-hander had a strong outing despite being injured in the first inning. Lake Stevens leadoff hitter Chase Ridder scored on a wild pitch as Spahman dove to make a tag at home. Spahman stood up with a cut on his hand but remained in the game.

“When he tried to make that dive to make the tag at home he scratched up his hand and it caused a pretty good-sized cut on his hand. But he still wanted it,” Chartrand said. “He’s done a good job for us all year and he had a good outing for us.”

Both offenses started the 10 a.m. game a bit stagnant. Lake Stevens (15-9 overall) scored its four runs on three hits and three Monroe errors. A sacrifice fly by Colton Richards was the only hit that drove in a run for the Vikings, who move on to face the District 3 No. 2 team in a regional game next Saturday at 10 a.m. at Art Wright Field in Kent.

The winner of that game plays the winner of another regional contest in a state quarterfinal matchup later Saturday afternoon.

“I was talking to the guys about it and they go, ‘It’s no different than in summer ball,’” Anderson said of the early start time. “They have to get up and go play in the morning in tournaments and stuff. We just took that approach. It’s just like a school day. Get up early and the same routine. Hopefully it continues next week.”

Monroe got its run on its lone hit of the game, a single up the middle by Andrew Chartrand in the top of the sixth inning.

“I think the boys were ready. We just didn’t execute today,” Chartrand said. “We can play better baseball. I don’t know if it was the stage or thinking about prom tonight, but whatever the case may be we just didn’t play our best baseball game today.”

The loss ended a Bearcats season that looked like it might be a struggle at the start. Monroe began the year with five consecutive losses but found its way in the season and a win in the Bearcats’ final game of the regular season clinched a district berth for Monroe.

At districts, the Bearcats defeated Cascade 4-2 in a nine-inning playoff opener, dropped a 2-1 semifinal game to eventual-district champion Snohomish and earned a 3-2 victory over Mount Vernon in a loser-out game on Thursday.

“It was a good year. It was a good experience for my boys,” Chartrand said. “At the start of the season we were 0-5 and it would have been easy for any team to collapse. But this team stuck together and made goals that were attainable. We did a good job.

“It’s about building a program. This is a step that we haven’t been in in a long time. We have 10 players on this roster that will be back next year ready to go.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Monroe0000010–113

Lake Stevens100012x–431

Alex Spahman, Tyler Koontz (6) and Eric Pino. Nick Hoskins and Andrew Bustard. WP–Hoskins. LP–Spahman. Records–Monroe 11-12 overall. Lake Stevens 15-9.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.