MILL CREEK — Matti Tetzlaff is 5-foot-3 and weighs 115 pounds — not exactly an intimidating physique.
But frequently when Tetzlaff, a freshman on the Jackson High School softball team, hits the ball she transforms from petite utility player to mighty slugger.
Tetzlaff smashed a game-winning solo home run Wednesday in Jackson’s 2-1 victory over the Mountlake Terrace Hawks. Her leadoff blast over the center-field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Timberwolves a come-from-behind triumph in the pivotal Western Conference South Division clash.
“I really wasn’t thinking anything until I started running around the bases and saw everyone at home plate,” said Tetzlaff, who already has five homers this season. “Finally it clicked: Oh my gosh, I just hit the winning home run!”
Jackson (13-0 Wesco South) increased its lead over second-place Mountlake Terrace (11-2) to two games and swept their season series.
Both teams have three division contests remaining. They’re battling for the South’s No. 1 seed for the Class 4A District 1 tournament, which starts May 15 in Monroe.
Terrace, which had won eight consecutive division games since losing 3-0 April 1 against Jackson, scored one run in the first inning and led 1-0 through five innings. But Jackson’s Erin Feeney, who earned the pitching victory with 41/3 innings of no-hit relief, tied it at 1-1 with a solo leadoff homer in the sixth inning.
After Feeney pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Tetzlaff, batting ninth in Jackson’s lineup, won it by hitting an inside fastball by Terrace pitcher Kori Seidlitz out of the park.
Tetzlaff earned redemption for a fielding mistake that led to Terrace’s only run early in the game. Playing left field, she dove too early and misplayed a line drive by Terrace’s Aly Delizo, who scored on Kayla Watson’s single.
“It really brought my spirits (up) and helped me be more cheerful,” Tetzlaff said of her first game-winning home run at Jackson, “because after that awful play I was feeling really bad. Being able to do that for my team, to help them out, really made me feel happy.”
Despite being without two regular starters (Cerise Knakal and Carly McEachran) and being unable to use a key pitcher (Dani Jackman) because of injuries, Jackson found a way to win. The Timberwolves pushed their victory streak to a dozen.
“I like the way our team rallied,” Jackson coach Mike Moran said.
Jackson nearly tied it in the fifth, but an excellent defensive play by Terrace kept the score 1-0.
Kimmi Kumangai singled off Seidlitz on a grounder up the middle and Miya Kumangai tried to score from second base. But Terrace center fielder McKenzie Dessin’s throw from the outfield was on target and the catcher, Watson, blocked the plate and tagged out Miya Kumangai.
Jackson loaded the bases when Seidlitz intentionally walked Jackman. Terrace escaped without allowing a run after Brooklynn York grounded out.
Jackson’s Ashley Todd (2-for-3 with a double) and Terrace’s Delizo (2-for-3, a triple, one run) were the players with more than one hit.
Seidlitz, Terrace’s pitcher, had six strikeouts and allowed one walk (although it was intentional) in six-plus innings.
At Jackson H.S.
M. Terrace1000000—130
Jackson0000011—280
Ko. Seidlitz and Watson. Mirante, Feeney (3) and York, Wilson (5), York (6). WP-Feeney (4-1). LP-Ko. Seidlitz (13-4). 2B-Todd (J) 1. 3B-Delizo (MT) 1. HR-Feeney (J) 1, Tetzlaff (J) 1. Records-Mountlake Terrace 11-2 in division, 13-4 overall. Jackson 13-0, 14-3.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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