EVERETT — Entering Tuesday, the Jackson High School softball team hadn’t given up a run since its season opener.
In what served as the first Wesco 4A league matchup of the year, the powerhouse Timberwolves overcame one of their only scares of the season thus far, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning as they outdueled Kamiak, beating the Knights 12-3 at Phil Johnson Ballfields.
Paced by a pair of solo home runs that came in the top of the fourth and sixth innings from senior shortstop Samantha Rohwer, previously unbeaten Kamiak (12-1, 0-1 Wesco 4A) seemed close to knocking undefeated Jackson off balance on Tuesday evening, closing the gap to 5-3 by the middle of the sixth inning.
The Timberwolves (11-0, 1-0), ended the glimmer of hope in the bottom of the sixth. Powered by a grand slam from junior Hailey Pelletier (3-for-4, five RBI), Jackson broke away as they entered the final inning.
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6-foot junior right-hander Yanina Sherwood helped the Timberwolves secure the win with an all-around performance on both sides. She collected 12 strikeouts in the circle over seven innings and went 2-for-2 at the plate, drew two walks and added an RBI.
“Kamiak has been a great team, they have a really good offense,” Jackson coach Kyle Peacocke said. “I was really proud of Yanina for being able to shut them down. I was happy with the way we swung the bats and just kept battling. The few times they were able to score on us we came back and added to our total.”
The Timberwolves got a pair of much-needed runs in the first on RBI doubles from Pelletier and junior Leneyah Mitchell to spark an early 2-0 lead.
In the third, Jackson took a 3-0 advantage as junior Rachel Sysum whacked a solo homer.
Freshman infielder Mia Edinger stole three bases as a pinch runner and Jackson went 15-for-31 in its at-bats, as opposed to the Knights’ 5-for-27.
“I feel like we jumped on our scoring early,” Sherwood said. “That’s been kind of a struggle we’ve had this year, we always score our runs at the end, but we really just got on ‘em and our whole one-through-nine was really hitting the ball well.”
Sherwood, a UNLV commit, came into the game sporting a season-long 0.00 ERA over 60 innings pitched.
The Timberwolves were recently ranked seventh in USA Today’s high school softball Week 5 top-25 list.
Jackson has key meetings against league threats Glacier Peak (8-0) on Thursday and Lake Stevens (10-1) on Apr. 20 as the Wesco 4A standings start to take shape.
“Our league has always been super good,” Sherwood said. “It’s been an experience for sure, I feel like this game has definitely showed even myself about all the different little things you have to do. You have to rely on your athletes, and you have to pick up those ground balls.”
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