Everett’s Aaron Robertson reacts to hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning of the Seagulls’ 8-4 win over Meadowdale in a Class 3A Northwest District Tournament quarterfinal Saturday at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium. It was the Seagulls’ first postseason victory in nine years. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett’s Aaron Robertson reacts to hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning of the Seagulls’ 8-4 win over Meadowdale in a Class 3A Northwest District Tournament quarterfinal Saturday at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium. It was the Seagulls’ first postseason victory in nine years. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett baseball earns milestone win over Meadowdale

The Seagulls win their 1st playoff game since 2010 and move within 1 win of their 1st state berth since 1995.

EVERETT — Eyler Anderson sparked the Everett High School baseball team’s sixth-inning outburst with a go-ahead squeeze bunt.

Aaron Robertson provided the knockout punch soon after, clobbering a three-run triple to break things wide-open.

Using a mix of small ball and heavy hitting, the Seagulls continued their breakthrough season with a milestone victory. And now, the long-struggling Everett baseball program is on the doorstep of its first state berth in nearly a quarter-century.

The Seagulls exploded for a six-run sixth inning and earned their first postseason win in nine years with an 8-4 victory over Meadowdale in a Class 3A Northwest District Tournament quarterfinal Saturday at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium.

“They expect to win, and that’s (a) big thing,” Seagulls coach Alex Barashkoff said. “In the previous years, I don’t think they expected to win, but they would’ve been highly disappointed if they would’ve lost today. … That makes my job a lot easier when kids expect to win — not just want to win, (but) expect to win.”

The victory advanced Everett (16-5) to Tuesday’s district semifinals, where the Seagulls will face Edmonds-Woodway (13-8) at 6 p.m. at Funko Field. With a win, the Seagulls would secure their first state tournament berth since 1995.

“It feels great,” Robertson said. “Honestly, I’ve been kind of dreaming about this for a while now, especially for the seniors. Everyone here on this team wants it, and we showed it today and we deserved it.”

Everett’s Tyler Bates makes a catch in left field. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett’s Tyler Bates makes a catch in left field. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Everett’s Nick Mardesich led off with a high-arcing double to left field. Jonathan Murphy followed with an infield hit, and later stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position.

That set the stage for the pivotal squeeze bunt, one of baseball’s most exciting — and riskiest — plays.

The Seagulls had only begun practicing the do-or-die play earlier this week. But with the go-ahead run 90 feet away, Barashkoff gave No. 9-hitting Anderson the sign.

“My heart was beating fast,” Anderson said. “I didn’t want to be the guy that went up to bunt and missed it and got my teammate out. But I just stayed right in the box, laid it down and it worked out.”

With courtesy runner Corbin Weitenhagen sprinting home on the pitch, Anderson laid a well-placed bunt down the third-base line. Weitenhagen, who was nearly all the way home by the time Meadowdale’s pitcher fielded the ball, scored easily to give Everett a 3-2 lead.

“The squeeze was huge momentum,” Barashkoff said. “… That kind of opened the floodgates there.”

Meadowdale’s pitchers then combined to hit three consecutive batters, bringing home another run for the Seagulls.

Everett cleanup hitter Aaron Robertson went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs on a pair of extra-base hits. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett cleanup hitter Aaron Robertson went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs on a pair of extra-base hits. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The cleanup-hitting Robertson followed with the dagger, launching a bases-clearing triple over the center fielder’s head to make it 7-2. Robertson then scored on a balk to give Everett a six-run cushion heading into the final frame.

Robertson finished 2-for-3 and drove in four runs on a triple and a double. The hard-hitting lefty junior is batting .426 this season with 12 doubles and a triple.

“He’s had such a great season,” Anderson said. “That (triple) was a shot. Every time he comes up there, we always expect a base hit out of him. He’s been playing great all year.”

Mardesich started on the mound for Everett and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits.

It was the eighth consecutive victory for the Seagulls, who are enjoying their first winning season in more than a decade. Everett has won 11 of its last 12 games and is 14-2 since being swept by unbeaten Arlington at the start of league play.

“A lot of people didn’t really expect us to be that good,” Anderson said. “We brought up a lot of guys from JV, so we weren’t expected to do much, but it’s just wild. We’ve had a great season. It’s been fun.”

Mason Vaughn went 3-for-4 for Meadowdale, which dropped to the loser’s bracket with the loss. The Mavericks (11-10) will host Lynnwood (10-12) in a loser-out game at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Meadowdale needs two consecutive wins to earn its first state berth since 2013.

“It didn’t go our way at the end,” Mavericks coach Bill Hummel said. “They’re good. I’m impressed with (Everett’s) ballclub. They really swing it well. … It’s about survive and advance at this point.”

Everett starter Nick Mardesich allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett starter Nick Mardesich allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.