LAKE STEVENS — With just three berths to the bi-district tournament up for grabs in the rugged Wesco 4A this spring, each and every league contest carries major weight in the five-team conference.
But Tuesday’s clash with Lake Stevens meant a little more for the Glacier Peak softball team as it looked to avoid an 0-3 start in league play after tearing through its non-conference schedule with a perfect 8-0 record.
The Grizzlies righted the ship thanks to a big day at the plate from starting pitcher Faith Jordan and a shutdown relief appearance by Maya Mesa.
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Jordan homered, had three hits and drove in five runs, Mesa recorded all nine outs via strikeout in a three-inning save and the Grizzlies bested the Vikings 7-3 at Lake Stevens High School.
“It was definitely a good confidence boost after losing our first two conference games,” Jordan said. “Now I think we’re in a better mindset going on in league play.”
The victory put GP (9-2 overall, 1-2 Wesco 4A) squarely back in the running for a bi-district berth. Previously unbeaten Jackson’s loss to Kamiak on Tuesday also means the Grizzlies are now within realistic striking distance in the league title chase.
Jackson and Kamiak are currently tied for first at 3-1 in league play and sit two games in front of GP and Lake Stevens.
“It was very important to win today,” Grizzlies coach Stefanie Celix said. “We needed this and we need the momentum going forward.”
Jordan, a senior Fresno State signee, made sure she had a lead before she ever threw a pitch by depositing a two-strike pitch over the wall in right-center for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
McKellen Hamilton led off the second frame with a double and came around on Lauren Hufford’s single on the next pitch. The Grizzlies loaded the bases for Jordan and she came through with a two-RBI single down the third-base line for a 4-0 advantage.
Lake Stevens (11-3, 1-2) started to chip away in the fourth. The Vikings loaded the bases with three infield singles and pulled within 4-3 on Alexis Johnson’s two-run single and Rylee Beckham’s RBI single. But Lake Stevens’ threat came to an end after a runner was caught trying to steal third.
Mesa came on in the fifth and struck out nine of the 10 batters she faced, allowing only one hit and no runs.
“Maya just has a different spin on the ball,” Celix said. “So putting her in after Faith, it kind of throws the batters off. … She’s just doing an amazing job on the mound.”
Jordan provided insurance for GP in the sixth, again coming up with a key hit with the bases loaded to score two runs.
“Faith as a senior this year is really pulling her weight. She is doing it both offensively and defensively. On the mound she’s doing her job. At the plate she’s doing her job. She’s just really reliable. We know when she comes up to bat that something good is going to happen.”
Jordan struck out six in four innings pitched, Laila Carpenter added an RBI single and Hamilton had three hits for GP.
Zoe Hopkins had two hits, including a triple, and Haylee Kim had two hits for Lake Stevens.
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