Lynnwood earns state berth in softball

Published 12:05 am Sunday, May 24, 2009

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Sometimes lightning strikes in the same place twice.

The Lynnwood Royals scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning-in an eerily similar way as they did earlier in the day-to defeat Everett 2-1 in the 3A District 1 playoffs at Janicki Fields and clinch the district’s second berth in the state tournament.

“It’s incredible,” Lynnwood head coach Matt Rockne said after the game. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Julia Nealer led off the seventh inning by reaching on an error. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, Jenah Barlow hit a walk-off single to right field scoring Nealer to win the game and avenge Lynnwood’s loss to Everett two days earlier in the tournament.

“I knew as soon as I saw it,” Nealer said. “I was going home.”

The game ended in a similar fashion to the Royals’ first game of the day, a 1-0 win over Mt. Vernon that set up the showdown with Everett. In that game, Nealer again led off the inning by getting on base-this time with a double-and after an out and intentional walk, Barlow hit her in.

In the second game, Everett struck first, with a two out rally in the top of the second inning. A hit batter and a walk set up an opportunity for Chailah Formon, who singled to right field to put the Seagulls up early.

But the lead didn’t last for long. In the bottom of the same inning Nealer led off with a double, was sacrificed to third and then scored when Kelsie Mason hit a single.

“They came out after the loss on Wednesday refocused,” Rockne said. “They found another level of intensity.”

Nealer, who finished with all three of the Royals’ runs for the day, also pitched a gem. Shortly after hurling seven innings against Mt. Vernon, the senior came out and pitched another complete game against Everett allowing only one hit and striking out 11 to earn her second win of the day.

“Nealer pitched us to state,” Rockne said. “This team’s going to go as far as Julia Nealer takes us.”

Rockne and Nealer conferred and agreed that this was Lynnwood softball’s first trip to the state tournament.

“At the beginning of the year we had one goal: get to state,” Rockne said. “(The team) is ecstatic. But it’s not like they didn’t expect this.”

Everett kept the game close the whole way, behind the pitching of senior Alexandra Hudson who, like Nealer, pitched two full games for her team. Hudson only gave up three hits to the Royals.

The Seagulls found themselves in their second game of the day after a nail-biting loss to Sedro-Woolley, which clinched the District 1 championship after coming from behind to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

At Janicki Fields

Consolation final, loser out

Lynnwood0000010—1

Mount Vernon0000000—0

Nealer and Parker. Not reported. W-Nealer. L-not reported. Records-Lynnwood 19-5 overall. Mt. Vernon 14-10.

Championship, winner to state

Everett0101000—252

Sedro-Woolley100002x—391

Al. Hudson and An. Hudson. Lynch-Crumrine, Brewer (3) and Best. W-Brewer. L-Al. Hudson. 2B-L. Kesterson (E). Records-Everett 13-9 overall. Sedro-Woolley 21-2.

Second place, winner to state, loser out

Everett0100000—111

Lynnwood0100001—230

Al. Hudson and An. Hudson. Nealer and Parker. W-Nealer. L-Al. Hudson. 2B-Nealer (L). Records-Everett-13-9 overall. Lynnwood 19-5.