Granite Falls hitters find their stroke, rally to upend Sultan

GRANITE FALLS — It took the Granite Falls batters until the sixth inning to get their first hit against Sultan on Tuesday, but when the hit finally came, it sparked a come-from-behind 4-2 softball victory over the Turks.

Entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers trailed 2-0 and had been dominated by Sultan starting pitcher Shelby Jeffries. She was two innings away from a no-hitter and had allowed just one baserunner — on a walk issued earlier in the game.

Her dominance began to unravel when Makenzie McLaughlin singled to center field leading off the sixth. The hit seemed to spark the Tigers. Hailey Teter followed McLaughlin by reaching base on an error and Jeffries walked Taylor Arndt to load the bases with no outs.

That set the stage for the game’s two most important hits

Kelsey Bechtholdt delivered the first. Her bloop-single over the head of the first baseman scored McLaughlin and Teter to tie the score 2-2. Jeffries then settled down and recorded two outs.

But Granite Falls was undaunted.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Caitlinn Santiesteban delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit — a single to left field that scored Arndt and Bechtholdt.

“It was huge,” Granite Falls head coach Jillian Piland said of Santiesteban’s hit. “She’s the one who’s coming back from shoulder surgery, so she’s had a rough couple of years with injuries. She’s been a big hitter, so I knew she had it in her. One through nine (in the lineup) every single girl has the potential to do something special at the plate. We’ve got confidence all the way through.”

Despite being held check by a pitcher that seemed to have her best stuff, the Tigers never stopped battling until they finally broke through.

“This team, and I said it all of last season, they’re fighters,” Piland said. “There is no such thing as the bottom of the fifth and giving up, they’re going to go all the way to the very last second.”

The Tigers improved to 3-0 with the victory and remain in first place, while the Turks suffered their first loss of the season.

“We knew that this was going to be a tough team,” Piland said. “We’re expecting to come out every day like we’re going for state because that might be what it comes down to in the end. So we’re going hard every single day.”

As good as Jeffries was in the first five innings, Granite Falls starting pitcher Lauren Harding wasn’t far behind. She gave up a triple and an RBI-single in the first inning, but allowed just two hits and one unearned run the rest of the way which kept the Tigers within striking distance.

“She’s an absolute workhorse,” Piland said. “She’s always worked hard for us. Last season, she really stepped up as a leader and this year she’s a captain — love her, she’s just a great kid. She worked hard in the offseason so she’s got more velocity than we saw last year and her screwball and her curveball looked really good today.”

The game proved to be a missed opportunity for Sultan to grab first place in the Cascade Conference, but it’s still early in the season.

“We’re about where I thought we’d be,” Sultan head coach Garth MacDicken said. “Playing a tough team like this gives us an idea of what we need to work on a little bit and what situations we need to work on in practice. It was a good test for us and I’m sure it’s a good test for them.”

At Sultan H.S.

Sultan 100 010 0 — 2 4 1

Granite Falls 000 004 x — 4 3 1

Shelby Jeffries and Rachel Kirkpatrick. Lauren Harding and Dannica West, Caitlinn Santiesteban (6). WP—Harding. LP—Jeffries. 3B—Randi Tuggle (Sultan) 1. Records—Sultan 1-1 league, 2-1 overall. Granite Falls 3-0, 4-1.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

Terrace, Monroe girls advance in district hoops tournament.

Kimberly Beard, a Mukilteo resident who attends King's High School, prepares to release a throw during the 20-pound weight competition at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Donna Beard)
Mukilteo’s Kimberly Beard wins throwing event

The King’s High School junior won the 20-pound weight throw at a George Fox indoor meet.

Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), who will be coached by his third offensive line coach in three seasons in 2025, lines up in Seattle's 20-17 win over San Francisco at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire shows they’re serious about offensive line

New offensive coordinator bringing in veterans with hopes of improving front.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Stanwood High School football coach Jeff Scoma talks with the referees during the 3A quarterfinal game against Odea on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former Stanwood football coach lands new Gig

Jeff Scoma, who resigned midseason in 2024, will coach Gig Harbor H.S. next season.

Mariners among biggest offseason losers

Juan Soto, LA Dodgers are among winners as baseball begins.

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs with after a catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Tyler Lockett’s future with Seahawks remains unclear

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald noncommittal 1 month before a possible decision point.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
O’Neil: The Seahawks will keep Geno Smith

The reasons for the Seahawks quarterback sticking around are simple and obvious.

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.