PREP ROUNDUP: Jackson survives wild, 11-inning contest with Monroe

Published 5:51 pm Thursday, May 13, 2010

EVERETT — “It was a game for the ages.” So said Jackson baseball coach Kirk Nicholson.

Nicholson praised both his team and his opponents after his Timberwolves came out on top 7-4 against Monroe in 11 innings in a 4A District 1 loser-out playoff game at Everett Memorial Stadium Wednesday night.

Cole Plummer hit a two-run triple, his second of the day, and scored on a Connor Plaisance single to put Jackson up by three in the top of the 11th inning.

“First of all we thanked our catcher for catching 11 innings,” Nicholson said of Kyle Olson. “Then we just said ‘Hey, we got practice today, tomorrow and the next day.’”

The game almost went to Monroe — twice.

With his team behind 4-1 in the top of the seventh, Jackson’s John Wilde came to bat with two runners on base and two outs. On a 1-2 count he smacked the ball over the right field fence to tie the score.

“If we don’t hit a home run, that ends our year,” Nicholson said. “We’re packing our gear up figuring this season’s over with. Then John Wilde comes in and ties it for us.”

Then, in the bottom of the ninth, a Monroe batter struck out to end the inning, but the ball got past Olson. The Bearcats sent their runner on third base home and he scored, giving Monroe an apparent victory. But the batter failed to run to first base. With the umpires walking off the field, Nicholson yelled to appeal the call and had his team throw to first base to force out the runner.

Jackson (17-6 overall) plays a winner-to-state, loser-out game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Aaron Hatch led the Bearcats (13-10), going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

“They’re a pretty good club,” Nicholson said. “They’re scrappy. They did everything they had to do … they played a great game.”

Sophomore Josh Lang (1-0), who pitched on junior varsity for most of the year, came in and quieted the Bearcats, earning the win for his first decision of the season.

“We had nobody left,” Nicholson said. “My pitchers (came) in and (pitched) their hearts out in the last five innings.

“It was a fantastic game,” Nicholson continued. “There wasn’t a kid that didn’t have a smile on their face … That’s why you coach. Every year you come out for games like that.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

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Haugen, S. Brown (5), Kiel (7), Lang (9) and Olson. Reppert, Hopkins (7), Whiton (11) and Reed. WP—Lang (1-0). LP—Hopkins. 2B—Wishko (J), Hatch (M), Brakke (M). 3B—Hopkins (M), Plummer (J) 2, M. Brown (J). HR—Wilde (J). Records—Monroe 12-11 overall. Jackson 17-6.

Shorecrest 5, Everett 0: At Mt. Vernon, Matty Rohrback threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven with zero walks to keep Shorecrest alive in the 3A District 1 tournament. Rohrback, throwing on three days rest, gave up three hits and was aided by a four-run first inning by the Scots. Shorecrest play Ferndale — which it defeated 5-3 in the first round — in a loser-out game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sherman Anderson Field. Freshman Hayden McNabb batted 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and two RBI and Nick Desrosier had two RBI.

At Sherman Anderson Field

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Everett pitchers and catchers not reported. Rohrback, Benbrooks (7) and Desrosier. WP—Rohrback. LP—not reported. 2B—Lazcano (S). Records—Everett 5-18 overall. Shorecrest 10-13.

Softball

Lakewood 13, Coupeville 5: At Coupeville, Arianna Barrio was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, double, four RBI and four runs scored to lead Lakewood to the Cascade Conference win.

At Coupeville H.S.

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Bean and Wilson. Stevenson, Trumbull (4) and Walstad. WP—Bean. LP—Stevenson. 2B—A. Barrio (L), Walstad (C), Piechowski (C). HR—A. Barrio. Records—Lakewood 7-11 league, 8-11 overall. Coupeville 1-17, 2-17.

Cedarcrest 7, Archbishop Murphy 2 (10 innings): At Everett, Jerrica Kjorsvik had one hit in the game, but was it a big one. Kjorsvik hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning, breaking open a 2-2 tie for the Cascade Conference win. Pitcher Dani Kissinger earned the complete-game win for Cedarcrest. Sam Boelter batted 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. Anna Whitehouse led the Wildcats, batting 4-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI.

At Archbishop Murphy H.S.

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Kissinger and Kjorsvik. Manuel and Homes. WP—Kissinger. LP—Manuel. 2B—Boelter (C), Manuel (AM), Whitehouse (AM) 2. HR—Kjorsvik (C). Records—Cedarcrest 11-6 league, 11-7 overall. Archbishop Murphy 11-7, 12-8.

Granite Falls 10, South Whidbey 0 (6 innings): At Granite Falls, Alicia Amundson led Granite Falls, batting 2-for-3, and Granite Falls took advantage of 10 South Whidbey errors to finish a perfect 18-0 in the Cascade Conference. Alyssa Arndt earned the complete-game shutout, striking out nine while walking six. The Tigers play a non-league game at home on Monday against Cedar Park Christian for a chance at a perfect 20-0 season.

At Granite Falls H.S.

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Piehler and Parra. Arndt and Spencer. WP—Arndt (15-0). LP—Piehler. 2B—Arndt (GF). Records—South Whidbey 11-7 league, 11-9 overall. Granite Falls 18-0, 19-0.

Boys soccer

Coupeville 2, Orting 1: At Orting, Coupeville broke open a 1-1 tie late in the second half, vaulting the Wolves into the 1A state tournament. Coupeville (12-8-0) plays 1 p.m. Saturday at Orting for seeding purposes. In the 14th minute, Garrett Knoll (unassisted) put Coupeville up 1-0. Orting’s Dylan Utley scored in the 35th minute and Wolves’ Ben Hayes hit the game-winner in the 69th minute (Spencer Tack assist). Evan Coleman earned the win in goal for Coupeville.