PREP SOFTBALL: Hudson’s home run puts Everett in title game

Published 11:17 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — All it took was one swing of the Alexandra Hudson’s bat to vault the Everett softball team into the district championship game for the second year in a row.

Hudson nailed an 8th-inning pitch from Lynnwood’s Julia Nealer over the right field fence to lead the Seagulls to a 2-1 upset win in the semifinals of the 3A District 1 tournament at Janicki Fields in Sedro-Woolley.

Nealer struck out 11 batters for the Royals, but couldn’t put one passed Hudson in the top of the eighth inning. Hudson fell victim to a strikeout in the first inning, but finished the game batting 2-for-4 with the crucial RBI.

“I just saw it (the pitch) was inside and thought, ‘that’s where I want it,’” Hudson said of her fourth home run of the season.

Hudson, a senior and converted outfielder, also pitched a complete game for the Seagulls. This is the first season she has pitched for Everett.

“I think she pitched maybe three innings in mop-up duty as a freshman,” Everett head coach Kyle Peacocke said. “(Alexandra’s) a total team player, she stepped up and actually pitched a lot better than I expected this year.”

Hudson assumed the pitching role following the graduation of pitcher Cory Mattson, who helped lead Everett to a district championship and third-place finish at the state tournament in 2008.

“This year has been a surprise for me, I haven’t pitched in a really long time,” Hudson said.

The Seagulls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning behind a bloop single from freshman Lauren Kesterson, but Lynnwood battled back in the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1.

Royals catcher Kelsey Parker smacked a one-out, RBI single to right field to knot the score. Parker batted 2-for-4 with an RBI, the sophomore also hit a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the game ended on a Nealer foul pop out to Everett sophomore catcher Anna Hudson.

“We haven’t seen Nealer, but we knew she was going to be tough,” Peacocke said of Lynnwood’s senior pitcher. “She was as advertised.”

Peacocke said he anticipated a narrow-margin of victory for either team — both squads have seen their fair share of nail-biters this season.

Lynnwood, behind Nealer, has usually been on the winning side of those tight contests.

“It (Everett’s early one-run lead) might have surprised them a little bit, but they battled back and tied the game,” Peacocke said.

The Seagulls (13-9 overall), the Wesco North No. 3 seed, relish the postseason because the slate is wiped clean and Peacocke said regular-season records no longer matter.

“It’s something that not a lot of people have really given us a chance,” Peacocke said. “Obviously we’re not comfortable, we still need to win another game.”

Lynnwood (17-5) 10-run ruled Shorecrest behind Nealer’s 14 strikeouts in the tournament’s first round. Everett beat Ferndale 6-0; Hudson pitched 61/3 innings, doubled and tripled in the game.

The Seagulls face Northwest Conference No. 1 seed and tournament-favorite Sedro-Woolley (20-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Sedro-Woolley defeated Mount Vernon in the second semifinal game.

The Cubs feature strong pitching, just as Lynnwood; Hudson and Peacocke are both familiar with S-W’s dominant arms.

“I know that they have good pitchers,” Hudson said. “To me, that’s a plus … I think we’re ready.”

Lynnwood plays Meadowdale at 5 p.m. today in a loser-out game. Lynnwood’s path to the state tournament is now much more difficult — the Royals must win three more games to qualify for state and a showdown with Everett or Sedro-Woolley is a strong possibility.

At Janicki Fields

First round games

Shorecrest000000—023

Lynnwood021151—10130

Desrosier and Eshelman. Nealer and Parker. WP—Nealer (1-0). LP—Desrosier (0-1). 2B—Kang (L). 3B—Barlow (L). Records—Shorecrest 2-19. Lynnwood 17-4.

Everett1021200—690

Ferndale0000000—010

Al. Hudson, Levin (6) and An. Hudson. Williamson, Wilson (6) and Barmore. WP—Al. Hudson (1-0). LP—Williamson (0-1). 2B—Al. Hudson (E). 3B—Al. Hudson (E). Records—Everett 12-9 overall. Ferndale 11-10.

Mt. Vernon0000022—460

G. Peak0001000—142

Hiltz and Kutz. Lawson and Dillon. WP—Hiltz (1-0). LP—Lawson (0-1). 3B—Kutz (Mt.V), Dillon (GP). Records—Mt. Vernon 13-8. Glacier Peak 11-10.

Meadowdale0000000—025

Sedro101201x—570

Studioso and Haukap. Lynch-Crumrine and Best. WP—Lynch-Crumrine (1-0). LP—Studioso (0-1). Records—Meadowdale 8-13. Sedro-Woolley 19-2.

Semifinals

Everett01000001—261

Lynnwood00010000—141

Al. Hudson and An. Hudson. Nealer and Parker. WP—Al. Hudson (2-0). LP—Nealer (1-1). 2B—Parker (L). HR—Al. Hudson (E). Records—Everett 13-9 overall. Lynnwood 17-5.

Loser-out consolations

Meadowdale0010301—581

G. Peak0020200—464

Wold and Arthur. Lawson and Dillon. WP—Wold (1-0). LP—Lawson (0-2). 2B—Lennstrom (M). Records—Meadowdale 9-13. Glacier Peak 11-11.