MILL CREEK – Two old division foes met on the softball field at Jackson High School on Friday afternoon.
Everett, which finished second in the Wesco South in 2006, took on Jackson who won the division title last year.
Only this year it was a non-conference game.
The Seagulls, who switched to the Wesco North for the 2006-2007 school year, defeated the Timberwolves 5-3 in nine innings.
After falling behind by one early in the game, Everett battled back to tie the score in the second inning.
Alexandra Hudson then hit a lead-off home run in the top of the third, and Everett added one more on a sacrifice fly to take a lead 3-1.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth inning. Nena Slocum hit a bloop single to right field, and then moved to second on a pass ball.
Carly McEachran then flew out to right field. Slocum tagged up and ran to third base. The throw went wide right and Slocum was able to score to bring Jackson to within one.
The Timberwolves got that one run in dramatic fashion.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Slocum struck again hitting a triple with one out. McEachran then hit a fly ball to center field, which was immediately fired home to prevent Slocum from scoring.
Senior Taryn Pearce then stepped up to the plate and hit a score-tying single to right field.
“I told the girls ‘It’s a whole new ballgame,’” Everett coach Kyle Peacocke said of his pep talk in the top of the eighth inning.
After that it was the Cory Mattson show.
The junior from Everett pitched every inning of the game, striking out 13 batters and walking only two.
But that wasn’t enough for Mattson.
With two outs in the top of the
*inth inning, she helped herself out by hitting a two-run home run that turned out to be the difference in the game.
“Wow!” is all Peacocke could say after the game.
Mattson finished 2-for-5 and improved her record to 2-0, which also happens to be the Seagulls record.
“Pitching-wise she battled,” Peacocke said. “She’s a great hitter, too.
“I’m very happy with our girls.”
He also singled out Valerie Stahl, who was 2-for-4 and hit a lead-off single in the ninth to get on base so
she could later score.
“She helped us” Peacocke said.
Peacocke talked about last season when Jackson finished first in the Wesco South standings, but the Everett team still got the first seed to state by winning the district tournament.
“There has been a rivalry,” Peacocke said. “Jackson’s a good team.”
The Timberwolves (1-1) finished with 11 hits, five more than Everett. But Jackson also had four errors.
Slocum finished 3-for-5 with a single, double and a triple. She hit the double with one out in the bottom of the ninth to put pressure on the Seagulls. But back-to-back fly balls to left field ended the game.
“She’s a really good player,” Peacocke said.
Crystal Kummerfeldt was 2-for-4 with a double and Pearce was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
“It’s a good early season win,” Peacocke said.
Everett hopes to follow up with another big win when the Seagulls play Monroe on Tuesday. The Bearcats were the Wesco North champs in 2006.
“I expect a game like today,” Peacocke said about the upcoming contest against Monroe.
As for Mattson?
“She’ll probably pitch on Tuesday,” Peacocke said laughing.
At Jackson H.S.
Everett012000002-561
Jackson100010100-3114
Mattson and Welly. Frost, Priebe (5) and Cole. WP-Mattson (2-0). LP-Priebe (1-1). 2B-McEachran (J), Kummerfeldt (J), Slocum (J), Ritchie (E), Mattson (E). 3B-Slocum (J). HR-Hudson (E), Mattson (E). Records-Everett 2-0 overall. Jackson 1-1.
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