Marysville Getchell earns defining win over crosstown rival

MARYSVILLE — Marysville Getchell’s offense erupted for double-digit runs and ace pitcher Brionna Palm was painting the corners in the circle.

Add in the fact that it was the Chargers’ second-ever win over their crosstown rival since the school opened in 2011, and the first since 2014, it was a perfect way to get back on track.

Marysville Getchell (13-3, 8-2 Wesco 3A) whacked Marysville Pilchuck, 10-4, on their home field, ending a two-game skid in which the Chargers were shut out against Everett and Snohomish.

“To be quite honest, for this season, it’s just another game against, yes, a quality opponent that happens to be in our town,” Marysville Getchell head coach Mike Moran said. “We couldn’t treat it any different. We just had to go out and play, we couldn’t get psyched out. Because, truth be told, they’ve had our number over the last few years.

“It was good for our kids.”

Not only was it a key conference victory, which keeps the Chargers in the hunt in the Wesco 3A standings, but also halted an eight-game win streak the Tomahawks held over their crosstown rival.

With 13 wins the Chargers have already set a program-record and have ensured Marysville Getchell’s first winning record in its short history. The win over MP was even more sign of progress.

“I’m just so proud of everyone,” senior catcher Shannon Patton said. “We’ve had a tough last couple of games against Everett and Snohomish, but I’m so glad we came back today, of all games. I’m just so ecstatic that we won. It just means so much to me. It’s such a town rivalry. I’m speechless. I’m just so happy.”

The Chargers didn’t waste any time getting runs on the scoreboard. The heart of Marysville Getchell’s order strung together five consecutive singles in the second, with Patton and Palm picking up the RBI to provide a 2-0 lead. Faith Lampinen drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center and Hannah Kranz poked an RBI single to center to push the lead to four in the bottom of the fourth.

Emily Petermeyer drove a sacrifice fly to center and an error in Marysville Pilchuck’s outfield tacked on two more runs, leaving the Chargers with a commanding 7-0 lead after three innings.

After failing to score against Wesco heavyweights Everett and Snohomish, the early offensive production was a welcome sign.

“We just kept that, ‘Hey, we weren’t going to go 27-0,’” Moran said. “There are losses along the way. Just have to flush them and come back. They have good approaches, we hit a lot of balls the other way. Hit the ball where it was pitched instead of overextending pitches.

“This was a good win for them to feel good about themselves at the bat again.”

The Tomahawks were presented a sterling opportunity to get to Palm early after a pair of fielding errors and a walk loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but the junior hurler fanned the next two batters to escaped the jam.

She settled down well after that, retiring her next six hitters and not allowing a hit until Kelsey Edge laid down a suicide squeeze and Cassidy Phelps scored from third in the fourth inning.

Palm allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits and struck out 11 for the Chargers.

“Her changeups were really good, and her curveballs,” Patton said. “She was just on fire today.”

Senior Lilianne Fischer, a Murray State signee who is hitting .538 with three homers this season, didn’t play for the Tomahawks.

Lampinen helped lead the Chargers’ offense by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. She missed Tuesday’s game against Snohomish because of a broken nose that required minor surgery on Monday as a result of being struck in the face while covering second base on a caught stealing attempt in their 2-0 loss to Everett on Tuesday, according to Moran.

“She’s a trooper,” said Patton, whose throw up the middle glanced off her glove and into her face.

Patton also chipped in three hits and two RBIs. Palm provided herself some run support with three hits and an RBI as well.

Sydney Zachry finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Tomahawks.

Patton and the rest of Marysville Getchell’s seniors were in seventh grade when the Chargers last knocked off Marysville Pilchuck.

Their high school softball careers won’t end without obtaining crosstown bragging rights. At least for one night.

“I’m so excited to see them all after the game and rub it in a little bit,” Patton said. “I’m just happy that we showed up and did what we had to do.”