State softball roundup: Marysville Pilchuck advances to semis

Published 12:01 am Saturday, May 28, 2011

SPOKANE — With its 6-3 quarterfinal win over Richland Friday night at Merkel Park, the Marysville Pilchuck softball team is on its way to the semifinals of the 4A state championships.

Megan Rollings batted 3-for-3 for Marsyville Pilchuck, hit two doubles, scored a run and had an RBI in the

quarterfinal win. Haley Fritz added a sixth-inning home run, scored two runs and finished 2-for-4 for the Tomahawks. Marsyville Pilchuck totaled 10 hits.

Richland rallied late, scoring all of its three runs in the sixth inning. With no outs and three runs already scored in the inning, reliever Monica Clow entered the game for Marysville Pilchuck and notched the final six outs.

“We’re playing really well,” said Marsyville Pilchuck coach KT Allyn, whose team received a much-needed three-hour rest in between games on Friday, thanks to a rain delay. “We’re well rested, so we’ll be ready to go in the morning.”

Marysville Pilchuck plays Woodinville at 9 a.m. today at Merkel Park.

“They’re good,” said Allyn of Woodinville. “They have a really tough sophomore pitcher, a good defense to back her up, so it will be a tough game.”

In MP’s first-round game, Rollings finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI as the Tomahawks beat Kentlake 5-3.

Riley Fritz pitched a solid game for the Tomahawks and her sister Haley Fritz hit two doubles and scored a pair of runs.

In other 4A action, Jackson reached the quarterfinals before losing 8-3 to Skyview. The Timberwolves defeated Stadium 9-4 in their opener. They played Kentlake in a late loser-out game.

Arlington lost two straight and was eliminated. The Eagles fell 6-3 to Tahoma then 2-1 to Emerald Ridge.

3A: Everett still in contention for third

LACEY — Mountlake Terrace reach the quarterfinals before losing 6-5 to Kelso. The Hawks were then eliminated by Everett, 7-5. Mountlake Terrace beat University 11-8 in its opener.

Everett fell 9-3 to Juanita in the first round, then came back with wins over Wilson (5-4) and Terrace. The Seagulls play Bonney Lake at 11 a.m. today in another loser-out game. The Seagulls can still finish as high as third place.

Everett’s Lexie Levin combined to bat 5-for-6 with four RBI in the Wilson and Terrace games. She had the game-winning hit against Wilson.

“We had a tough draw in the first game against a Juanita pitcher who is very good,” Everett coach Kyle Peakcock said.

“After losing that game, the girls really bounced back, played well enough to win against Wilson, and kind of got our revenge against Mountlake Terrace. They had beat us a week ago. It was nice to beat them and knock them out of the tournament.

“It’s a long road, but we’re hanging in there. Just taking it one game at a time now.”

2A: Granite Falls ousted

SELAH — Granite Falls, making its third straight trip to state, lasted just two games. The Tigers lost 16-5 to Aberdeen in the first round and 6-4 to Franklin Pierce in consolation.

1B: Highland Christian sent to losers’ bracket

YAKIMA — Highland Christian lost 35-7 to Almira/Coulee-Hartline in the first round. No result of its evening consolation game against Wishkah Valley was available when The Herald went to press.