M-P, Snohomish advance to District 1 title game

Published 11:23 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2009

EVERETT — The 4A District 1 baseball finals will have a distinct Wesco North Division flair.

Marysville-Pilchuck and Snohomish both advanced to the district championship game with semifinal wins Tuesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.

M-P scored five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to overcome a three-run deficit and defeat Monroe 12-6 and Snohomish defeated Kamiak 2-0 behind a Braden Allen complete-game shutout in the night-cap to make it an all-Wesco North affair in Saturday’s final game.

In the first game, Monroe, the North No. 3 seed, touched up M-P starter Brennan Steinbaugh for five runs and a 5-2 lead in the first 31/2 innings. Cody Reed and Cody Hastings hit one-out RBI singles and Trevor Judson hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth inning to push the Bearcats in front before M-P found a groove.

Austin Denton and Devin Peterson had RBI singles and Kyle Pace added a two-out run-scoring single in the fourth to ignite the Tomahawks, the No. 1-seed from the North.

According to Tomahawks’ third baseman Tyler Holm, M-P changed its approach at the plate in order to start the rally against Monroe starter Jackson Cochran.

“We’re a first-pitch hitting team,” Holm said. “We changed our mentality about the second or third inning.”

Cochran lasted just 31/3 innings, walking five and striking out just one batter for Monroe, before being lifted for Alex Parker. The Tomahawks continued to rock Parker and reliever Erick Petersen while scoring 10 unanswered runs to build a 12-5 lead.

“Typically, we jump out on teams,” M-P head coach Kurt Koshelnik said. “You can’t always wait for it. … We try not to hit the panic button.”

Steinbaugh settled in following a rocky first and fourth inning to pitch 62/3 innings while earning the win for M-P. He was relieved with two outs in the seventh inning by sophomore Jacob Thomas.

“(Steinbaugh) had thrown a ton of pitches,” Koshelnik said. “It worked out well, I would’ve rather not have (pulled him). … It’s good to get some experience (for Thomas).”

Holm played a big part in M-P’s rally by batting 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. He also escaped a pickle to advance to third and eventually score another run for the Tomahawks.

“He (Monroe player) was looking at first base and I ran right by him,” Holm said of eluding an out.

The Tomahawks used mostly hard-hit singles to sink the Bearcats. Along with Holm, Denton batted 1-for-3 with three RBI and Peterson batted 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. The offensive firepower helped M-P’s Steinbaugh find a rhythm after the fourth inning.

“He (Steinbaugh) hasn’t thrown particularly well for us this year,” Koshelnik said, adding that he has been good enough to earn wins for the 19-3 team. “When he gets more and more mound time, he gets better.”

Monroe’s Hastings and Reed produced well — Hastings batted 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and Reed batted 2-for-5 with three RBI.

Koshelnik, in his second year coaching M-P, said that there is a marked difference in this year’s Tomahawk squad.

“Last year, I don’t think any of us knew what to expect (from the team),” Koshelnik said. “We feel like we’re doing a little of what was supposed to be done (this year).”

Koshelnik said junior Matt Cooper will take the mound Saturday against Snohomish in the district championship game.

“Confident, solid,” Holm said of his emotions knowing Cooper will be pitching Saturday. “He’s done so good all year.”

In the second semifinal game, Snohomish’s Allen gave up two hits and struck out six to earn the win.

The Panthers scored their only two runs on nearly identical two-out choppers up the middle in the sixth inning.

Following a Max Foster double and an intentional walk to Nate Mullins, Cameron Woolsey struck out looking for the second out of the inning. But on a 3-2 count with Foster running, Bryce Meinhold hit a bouncing ball that was fielded by the shortstop. The throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and Foster was able to score from second because catcher Jared Houghtaling was caught out of position backing up first base.

The next batter, Sam Godfrey hit another bouncer to the shortstop and reached safely, allowing Mullins to beat the throw home for the second run.

Allen, dominant from the get-go, closed out Kamiak.

“I just threw all four of my pitches for strikes,” Allen said. “I wasn’t nervous at all, we could swing the bats … I knew we were going to get (Guinn) sometime.”

Marysville-Pilchuck beat Snohomish twice this year, but both games were close.

“That third win is always hard to get,” said M-P’s Holm.

Kamiak faces Lake Stevens today in a 4 p.m. game at Everett Memorial Stadium and Shorewood plays Monroe in the night-cap. Both games are loser-out.

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Monroe2003001— 6 11 2

M-P1015500—12 14 2

Cochran, Parker (4), Petersen (5), Hatch (6) and Judson. Steinbaugh, Thomas (7) and Keister. WP—Steinbaugh. LP—Cochran. 2B—Hastings (M), Holm (M-P), Peterson (M-P). Records—Monroe 12-9 overall. Marysville-Pilchuck 19-3.

Snohomish0000020—272

Kamiak0000000—021

Allen and Godfrey. Guinn and Houghtaling. WP—Allen. LP—Guinn. 2B—Foster (S), Wolfe (S). 3B—Wolfe (S). Records—Snohomish 16-6 overall. Kamiak 13-8.