Snohomish completes sweep of Marysville-Pilchuck
Published 11:32 pm Thursday, March 20, 2008
MARYSVILLE — Thursday afternoon was yet another testament to the joys of playing high school baseball in the Pacific Northwest during March.
“This was absolutely the coldest day I have ever coached in my life,” Snohomish coach Kim Hammons said after the Panthers escaped with a 9-5, six-inning victory over Marysville-Pilchuck to sweep the season series from the Tomahawks and improve to 2-0 in Wesco North play.
The contest took more than three hours to complete, featured a half-hour rain delay and ended in bizarre fashion in the top of the seventh inning.
Snohomish had pushed across two more runs in the seventh before M-P reliever Kenneth Engles issued a two-out single to the Panthers’ Brian Wolfe. Then Engles made a pickoff attempt to first, injured his back and had to be helped off the field. The umpires called the game at that point, and the score reverted back to 9-5 — the score after six complete innings.
“Today under these conditions, I think both teams did a great job in battling,” Hammons added. “(Snohomish) played through the elements — we fought through it and I think that’s why we won.”
Snohomish, the 2007 4A state runner-up, spotted M-P an early 2-0 lead with two second-inning errors and what Hammons called “a poor approach” at the plate.
“We have struggled offensively during this cold spell,” he said. “After the first inning we seemed to get better with our approaches and we did some motivational things to prepare the kids in the second and third innings for better at-bats.”
Nate Mullins’ two-run home run in the third inning — Snohomish’s first hit off Tomahawks’ starter Brennen Steinbaugh — tied it at 2-2.
Braden Allen added a two-run homer of his own as Snohomish took a 5-2 lead and chased Steinbaugh in the top of the fourth.
“I made a bad throw to first base and I came in and (Hammons) yelled at me,” Allen said with a smile. “I always play better when I’m (upset).”
The Tomahawks answered with four consecutive singles in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-4, but a two-run error followed by an RBI double from Allen in the top of the sixth gave the Panthers some breathing room at 9-5.
Then the rains came to halt the game for a half-hour.
Panthers’ reliever Aaron West struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth and the umpires called the game with two outs in the top of the seventh.
“I think (this win) boosts our confidence,” Allen said. “We haven’t played very well at the beginning of the season so far and and I think this game is kind of a turning point for us.”
Marysville-Pilchuck pitchers didn’t help themselves as they issued 10 walks. The Tomahawks fell to 0-2 in Wesco North play, but coach Kurt Koshelnik said his team welcomed the chance to play the Panthers to open conference play.
“We see where we stand right out of the gate,” he said. “We’re not quite ready, so we’re going to have to figure some things out.”
Wolfe got the win for Snohomish to improve to 1-0 on the season. Allen finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and Bryce Meinhold scored three runs for the Panthers.
Steinbaugh took the loss and fell to 1-1 on the season. John Kruick and Riley Gilbertson each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Tomahawks.
At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.
Snohomish002313—964
M-P110210—571
Wolfe, Hargrave (4), West (6) and Chandler. Steinbaugh, Holm, Engles and Botham. WP—Wolfe (1-0). LP—Steinbaugh (1-1). 2B—Wolfe (S), Allen (S). HR—Mullins (S), Allen (S). Records—Snohomish 2-0 league, 4-0 overall. M-P 0-2, 2-2.
