EVERETT – The Cascade High Bruins were mired in a 3-0 hole after just a half-inning Tuesday afternoon.
But before his players geared up for their first at-bat, Cascade baseball coach Pat Opel reassured them. You can hit with anybody, he said.
They sure can.
Cascade overcame a slow start to build an eight-run lead through four innings and cruised to a 12-7 victory over the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks in a game at Cascade High that kicked off Western Conference North Division play for both teams. The league rivals play again at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at M-P.
“We are never out of any game,” Opel said of his Bruins, who improved to 1-0 in division and 3-1 overall. “It’s nice that (our hitters) back it up.”
Senior catcher Mike Chiarelli blasted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the third inning and scored two runs for Cascade. Senior Mike Stone was 2-for-4 with a two-run double for the Bruins, who placed fourth last year at the Class 4A state tournament and field five three-year starters.
One of them is Clayton Shaw, a senior who relieved Cascade starter David Amberson in the first inning and went on to strike out 11 and allow one run in five innings to help the Bruins recover.
“He did a great job – came in and threw strikes,” said M-P coach Josh Rosenbach, whose team dropped to 0-1, 2-2. “He kept us off balance and we couldn’t do a thing against him.”
Shaw (2-0) entered with the bases loaded and his team trailing 3-0 with no outs in the top of the first. He got three straight outs, including two whiffs, and later ripped off a stretch of six consecutive K’s.
Shaw is a player who consistently excels even in stressful situations, Opel said. The right-hander ravaged M-P’s lineup with excellent control and a ridiculously good changeup.
“He’s got a beautiful straight changeup that really fools guys,” Opel said.
Shaw also had a double and scored twice for Cascade, which seems likely to challenge for the Wesco North title and make another strong postseason run.
“We definitely have the offense to get back to state, for sure,” said Cascade senior Brian Pearl, who scored once and pitched the final 11/3 innings (no runs, one hit, two K’s).
“It’s a great way to start, a great (league) opener for us,” Opel said.
Cascade, which has outscored opponents 35-13 this season, plays a non-conference game against Sehome at 3:30 today in Bellingham.
Senior shortstop Brandon Williams had two hits and drove in a run for M-P, which finished 16-8 last year and reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals the past two seasons. But the Tommies graduated 10 seniors from its 2005 team, including standout pitcher Nick Haughian, who now plays for the Washington Huskies.
Said coach Rosenbach “We have some work to do, obviously.”
At Cascade H.S.
M-P3100030-754
Cascade104700x-1282
Clark, Pepin (4), Moser (5) and Bottin. Amberson, Shaw (1), Crawford (6), Pearl (6) and Chiarelli. WP-Shaw (2-0). LP-Clark (1-2). 2B-Pepin (M-P), Williams (M-P), Shaw (C), Stone (C). HR-Chiarelli (C) 2. Records-Marysville-Pilchuck 0-1 in division, 2-2 overall. Cascade 1-0, 3-1.
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