Lake Stevens pitcher Charli Pugmire deals against Glacier Peak on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Lake Stevens pitcher Charli Pugmire deals against Glacier Peak on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Lake Stevens tops Glacier Peak in key softball encounter

The Vikings strung together a three-run rally in the fifth inning to prevail 3-0.

SNOHOMISH — The Lake Stevens and Glacier Peak high school softball teams were deadlocked in a defensive duel through four innings of an important Wesco 4A matchup Tuesday evening, but the Vikings escaped after their bats came alive in the fifth.

Lake Stevens used a three-run fifth inning to a secure 3-0 victory over the Grizzlies. Three of the Vikings’ five hits came in the inning as Lake Stevens finally strung together a rally.

Emery Fletcher began the decisive fifth for Lake Stevens by drawing a walk. Then the Vikings ignited their bats. Alyssa Waldo scored Fletcher on an RBI double for the opening run. Then Ava Heston plated Waldo on a triple. Alexa Bradley kept the surge going, plating Heston on pop fly single to make it 3-0.

“We had talked a lot about what we were seeing at the plate and what we were going to do with it,” Lake Stevens coach Sarah Hirsch said. “We work a lot on hitting that outside pitch, we just finally were able to string enough together to make it work.”

That was more than enough offense for junior Charlie Pugmire, who started in the circle for the Vikings (13-2 overall, 3-1 league) and pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out eight while allowing three hits and two walks.

Senior Seattle University commit Maya Mesa racked up 11 strikeouts with four walks in seven innings for the Grizzlies (10-5, 1-3).

Mesa and Pugmire spent the early part of the game taking turns closing out innings in the circle. Then Mesa used her bat to put Glacier Peak in prime scoring position in the bottom of the fourth. She led off the inning by smacking a line drive to center field that nearly cleared the wall, settling for a double. Mesa advanced to third on a groundout, but Lake Stevens retired the Grizzlies’ last two batters as the game remained scoreless going into the fifth.

The Grizzlies threatened again in the bottom of the sixth as Sammie Christensen connected on a single, but McKenna Richer’s cross-field toss threw out Glacier Peak courtesy runner Audrey Fortune at third base to end the frame.

“We were there right on the edge,” Glacier Peak coach Stefanie Celix said. “We just need to string some runs together. We need to get to our hits, string them together and we’ll be where we need to be.”

After missing out on a playoff bid last season, the Vikings brought back a full crew with no graduated seniors from last spring. The win kept Lake Stevens holding a firm grip of second-place in a loaded Wesco 4A.

“You can definitely tell that they’ve been there and done that,” Hirsch said of her seasoned group. “They’ve wanted it and I think being left out of last year, they’ve got a little bit of hunger and fight in them. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do, its a solid fun team to be around.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

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.