Meadowdale’s Dent tosses no-hitter in 14-0 win over Lynnwood

Published 7:42 pm Friday, April 1, 2016

BOTHELL — The Meadowdale softball team’s offense erupted for 14 runs on 12 hits Friday afternoon.

But Lauren Dent didn’t need all that.

The Meadowdale junior threw a no-hitter and struck out 10 batters in the Mavericks’ 14-0 Wesco 3A South victory over Lynnwood in five innings at Lynnwood High School.

“She’s figured out what to do and is stepping up,” Meadowdale head coach Dennis Hopkins said. “She’s pitching better than she ever has. That was a great game for her. We’ll take a no-hitter!”

Dent was in control from the beginning, with two walks the only blemishes in the game.

“She’s a great pitcher,” Lynnwood head coach Sara Hall said. “Even the hits we had lost a little power or went foul.”

The Mavericks’ offense provided plenty of support for its pitcher. Sophomore Lauren Wallace led the way batting 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. Wallace, a transfer from Kamiak, also reached on an error in the first inning that scored a run.

“She came from Kamiak, and her family moved to this area. I was like, ‘OK. We’ll take you!’” Hopkins said. “Every year I think that we’re going to have to rebuild but every year we seem to find somebody else to fill the holes.”

Meadowdale junior Emma Helm also went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored. Helm, who has been a force for the Mavericks since her freshman year and has verbally committed to the University of Washington, caught Dent’s no-hitter behind the plate.

“She’s really coming into her own,” Hopkins said. “U-Dub is going to be lucky when they get her.”

Meadowdale has been to four consecutive state tournaments — taking third place twice — and is off to another fast start this season. The Mavericks are 6-0 overall and have outscored opponents 94-6 in those games.

The lowest number of runs Meadowdale has scored in a game is 13.

“They are awesome. They’re just an awesome-hitting team,” Hall said. “They are a great team all around. They are a great team and really nice girls too. They brought Maddie (Morgan) some flowers who got hurt earlier in the week.

“They are all so aggressive at the plate. Usually, you have a few girls at the plate (you’re worried about). Meadowdale is just stacked.”

Lynnwood (2-3 league, 3-4 overall) is battling several injuries with four key players out for the Royals including Morgan, a University of Alabama commit who got a concussion in Lynnwood’s game against Mountlake Terrace on Wednesday, according to Hall.

Hall is hoping to have the bulk of the injured players back after next week’s spring break.

“With all our injuries, and we’ve had a couple tough losses, it’s about perspective,” she said. “… It’s a game and you can’t hang on to the bad stuff. You have to move on. These games are tough but there’s always another game right around the corner.”

Hall is already looking forward to the rematch with Meadowdale on May 6th.

“It’s always nice to know that you have another shot at them, too,” she said. “You can prepare as much as possible. Now we know we just need to have more confidence at the plate.”

Meadowdale hopes to continue its recent success and make its fifth consecutive trip to the 3A state tournament in Lacey. The Mavericks are treating every game they play this year like the state title game — a contest they hope to make it to at the end of the season.

“We just keep telling them, ‘OK, every time we hit the field it’s the state championship game. Every game we play is that final game at state,’” Hopkins said. “Now we’ve got to get there. That’s the mentality that they want to do. They want to be on their game from the very beginning.

“We keep pushing them to play at a higher level. … I like where we’re at.”

At Lynnwood H.S.

WP: Lauren Dent (5 IP, 0 H, 10 K). LP: Mayda Rieflin. Individual highlights: Meadowdale—Emma Helm (3-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 3 R), Lauren Wallace (3-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 2B, R); Lynnwood—None. Records—Meadowdale 4-0 league, 6-0 overall. Lynnwood 2-3, 3-4.