PREP SOFTBALL: State-bound Cascade stuns top seed

Published 11:19 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

MONROE — Stanwood and Jackson both entered Wednesday’s 4A District 1 opening round with just two losses, and as the No. 1 seeds from Wesco North and South, respectively. Despite their lofty stature, neither team advanced to the championship game,

Instead that honor belongs to Cascade and Mountlake Terrace. Both teams also clinched a berth in the 4A state tournament.

Cascade was the fourth seed from the Wesco North and it drew Jackson in the first round. Cascade was able to capitalize on five Jackson errors to earn a 5-0 victory.

Cascade scored runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead against Arlington in the winner-to-state semifinal, a lead it held into the top of the seventh inning. Cascade pitcher Sam Munger had given up two hits, with no walks going into the seventh. Cascade retired the first two Arlington batters, but then Munger gave up a walk to Lisa Allen. Christina Rayner came to the plate and hit the first pitch over the left field wall to tie the score 2-2, and force extra innings.

The home run was only a brief blow to Cascade.

In the top of the eighth inning with one out, Cascade’s Taylor Pilkenton was on second base. After a Rayner pitch she attempted a delayed steal. When Rayner realized Pilkenton was running she attempted a quick throw to third, which got by the third baseman and allowed Pilkenton to score.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Cascade avoided one final Arlington rally. With Kristin Wright on second base, Allie Milless connected with a Munger pitch down the left field line. The ball landed just inches into foul territory, a fair ball would have easily tied the game. Instead, Milless struck out, and after a walk, Kalie Basher grounded out to Munger to end the game.

“I’m speechless really,” said an excited Cascade coach Wendy Close

Cascade’s victory earned the school its first-ever trip to state in fastpitch. The Bruins went to the state slowpitch tourney in 1982.

“Cascade has never been to state, so I guess it’s our time,” Close said.

Pilkenton batted 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in the semifinal victory.

“I can’t say enough about Taylor Pilkenton, she has only struck out three times all season,” Close said. “We got key hits at the right time, and some good base running.”

In the other semifinal, Mountlake Terrace and Stanwood also went into extra innings.

Stanwood had scored a run in the second inning, and Mountlake Terrace got one in third, that was the only scoring until the top of the 11th inning.

The Hawks scored two runs in the top of the 11th inning, when the international tiebreaker came into play. In that inning both teams start with runners on second base. McKenzie Dessin scored the first run on an error when Stanwood attempted to throw out Kayla Watson at first base. The second run scored when Kori Seidlitz laid down a suicide squeeze bunt with two outs which scored Jesse Printz. Printz was a courtesy runner for Kayla Watson.

Stanwood scored its runner from second in the bottom of the 11th inning, but was unable to get another run.

“We never doubted that we would be here, this is what we have been playing for all year.” Terrace coach Kim Stewart said. “And this is my last year of coaching so it feels pretty freakin’ good.”

Seidlitz pitched complete games in both the first round and the semifinal. She struck out 10 in the first game and 14 in the second.

“Pretty much I just try to focus on the next pitch. Sometimes I focus on Kayla (Watson, the catcher), sometimes I sing, whatever relaxes me,” said Seidlitz of her approach while pitching.

“I’m just so relieved that we’ve finally got here,” Seidlitz said. “All the talking throughout the year and we finally got to prove to everybody that we were that good.”

The district championship game is 5 p.m. today at Sky River Park. At the same time, the Marysville-Pilchuck-Arlington winner plays Shorewood-Stanwood winner for the third and final state seed from District 1.

At Sky River Park

First round games

M-P0000000—033

Stanwood0000000—6131

Fritz, Rosie (4) and Perrine. Jeans and Bingham. WP—Jeans. LP—Fritz. 2B— Stillman (S).

Snohomish0000002—234

M. Terrace000017x—880

Crisman and K. Gilhang. Kori Seidlitz and Watson. WP—Kori Seidlitz. LP—Crisman. 2B—Agerup (S), Kasch (S) DeLizo (MT), Dessin (MT).

Shorewood0000000—042

Arlington201100x—481

Hollenbeck and Edinger. Rayner and Herrington. WP—Rayner. LP—Hollenbeck. 2B—Rayner (A). HR—K. Allen (A).

Cascade2001020—550

Jackson0000000—045

Munger and Pilkenton. Jackman, Feeney (7) and Covello. WP—Munger. LP—Jackman. 2B—M. Miller (C). 3B—Jackman (J)

Winner-to-state semifinals

M. Terrace00100000002—373

Stanwood01000000001—262

Kori Seidlitz and Watson. Jeans and Bingham. WP—Kori Seidlitz (17-4). LP—Jeans (15-2). 2B—Jones (MT), Stillman (S). Records—Mountlake Terrace 17-4. Stanwood 18-3.

Cascade10100001—371

Arlington00000020—240

Munger and Pilkenton. Rayner and Herrington. WP—Munger (12-7). LP—Rayner (15-5). 2B—Pilkenton (C), Mattson (C). HR— Rayner (A). Records—Cascade 13-9. Arlington 16-6.

Loser-out consolations

M-P0240000—680

Snohomish2100000—371

Fritz and Perrine. Gordillo, Kasch (4) and K. Gilhang. WP—Fritz. LP—Gordillo. 2B—Clow (M-P). Records—Marysville-Pilchuck 12-11. Snohomish 11-11.

Shorewood4003000—7120

Jackson2010020—582

Jacobs and Edinger. Feeney, Jackman (2) and Covello. WP—Jacobs. LP—Feeney. 2B—Pope-Levison (S), Mirante (J). Records—Shorewood 15-7. Jackson 18-4.