Monroe’s Birch pitches 3rd perfect game
Published 10:31 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2008
EDMONDS — It wasn’t just dominant, it was perfect — again.
Monroe senior Jordan Birch pitched a perfect game for the third time in her prep softball career as the Bearcats defeated Edmonds-Woodway 7-0 Wednesday.
Birch, The Herald’s 2007 Softball Player of the Year, struck out 17 of the 21 batters she faced in Monroe’s season-opening victory.
“She just got in a zone and was incredible to watch,” Monroe head coach Curt Eskeback said. “She was totally in control and all her pitches were working. It was a perfect game and quite a sight to see.”
Edmonds-Woodway was able to put the ball in play just four times.
Birch, who will play for Illinois State next year, pitched two perfect games last season and a no-hitter.
Eskeback said while he wasn’t surprised to see Birch pitch another perfect game, he was impressed.
“I had been a coach for 12 years and never had a girl pitch a perfect game,” Eskeback said. “Last year, she did it twice. Now, she starts off her senior season doing it again. It’s just amazing.”
Birch picked up all the offense she needed in the fourth inning, as Monroe scored four runs.
Monroe’s Briar Stanley was 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
At Edmonds-Woodway H.S.
Monroe0004003—7120
E-W0000000—002
Birch and Stanley. Mahan and Gnagey. WP—Birch (1-0). LP—Stanley (0-1). 2B—Rogers (M) 1, McCutchen (M) 1. 3B—Stanley (M) 1. Records—Monroe 1-0 overall. E-W 0-1.
