MONROE – From the mound and the batter’s box, Cory Mattson helped lift the Everett softball team to a place its never been before – a district championship.
Mattson struck out 11 batters and scored the winning run in the Seagulls’ 2-1 victory over the Kamiak Knights in the 4A District 1 championship game Saturday at Sky River Park.
“We’ve been to state,” Everett head coach Kyle Peacocke said. “We’ve never won a district championship. So, this is something (the team) really wanted, something we’ve been shooting for for a couple of years.”
Both the Seagulls and Knights advance to the state tournament and open play on Friday in Tacoma, with Everett going to state as the top seed from the district.
Mattson is a big part of how Everett got that top seed, but don’t expect her to brag about it
“Not really,” answered the ever-modest Mattson when asked if she felt like her pitching was effective on Saturday. “(Kamiak was) ready to play today. … They were definitely on their game.”
Having faced each other twice in the regular season – both meetings won by Everett with Mattson on the mound – the teams knew what to expect.
“Cory Mattson is a very effective pitcher,” Kamiak head coach Bill Bowker said. “Every time we’ve played (Everett) its been a low-scoring game. … They’re a great team.”
“Both teams know each others hitters,” Peacocke agreed. “So, its basically whoever executes.”
With the scored tied at 1-all in the bottom of the fourth, Mattson hit a pop fly into short centerfield that dropped in for a single. Alexandra Hudson, who had doubled to start the inning, held up to ensure the ball was not caught and was thrown out trying to take third. Mattson advanced to second on the throw and scored the gamer-winner on the next pitch when Elizabeth Ritchie singled up the middle.
Expecting a low-scoring affair, the Knights were aggressive at the plate – eight of their 11 strikeouts came on swinging third strikes – but couldn’t solve Mattson.
“Cory was on her game today,” Everett’s Peacocke said. “She was hitting her spots and mixing up speeds.”
Ritchie was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Everett and Lauren Hope was 1-for-3 with a double. Claire Welly was 1-for-2.
Kamiak knotted the score in the fourth when Kate Defenbach launched a shot into left field with Andrea Sherrill, who had singled and stolen second, on base. Defenbach’s hit looked like it was gone, but the ball had too much air under it and Defenbach settled for an RBI double.
Defenbach pitched well in the loss, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out three in four innings pitched.
Everett opened the scoring in the second. Ally Pappas reached first on a fielder’s choice and scored on a throwing error when Elizabeth Reed – looking to move Pappas to second – put down a sacrifice bunt.
“At this level, obviously, it comes down to pitching and defense,” the Knights’ Bowker said after the game. “We had our opportunities, but it didn’t go our way today.”
Sherrill finished 2-for-3 with a single, a double and a run scored for Kamiak. Defenbach was 1-for-3 and Alyssa Malland, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief, batted 1-for-3.
At Sky River Park, Monroe
Kamiak0001000-141
Everett010100x-251
Defenbach, Malland (5) and Sherrill. Mattson and Welly. WP-Mattson. LP-Defenbach. 2B-Defenbach (K), Hope (E). Records-Kamiak 16-7 overall. Everett 21-2.
Monroe 7, Edmonds-Woodway 0: At Monroe, the Bearcats had a lot to celebrate Saturday night.
On the night of Monroe’s high school prom, the Bearcats secured a state playoff berth – their first appearance in the state tournament since 1997 – by defeating Edmonds-Woodway 7-0 in loser-out 4A District 1 playoff game at Sky River Park.
Sophomore Jordan Birch pitched a one-hitter, striking out 12 Warriors’ batters, and hit a triple to lead Monroe.
The Bearcats open state tournament play on Friday in Tacoma as the third seed from District 1.
Earlier in the day, the Bearcats defeated Jackson 2-0 to reach the third-place game. Ashly Forsberg struck out seven and earned the shutout victory.
At Sky River Park, Monroe Third-place game
E-W0000000-011
Monroe400003x-782
Dean and Dugger. Birch and Holmes, Kirksey (7). WP-Birch. LP-Dean. 2B-Holmes (M), Forsberg (M). 3B-Birch (M), Wangner. Records-Monroe 22-2 overall. E-W 13-10.
Monroe0000200-252
Jackson0000000-051
Forsberg and Holmes. Reid and Whedon. WP-Forsberg. LP-Reid. 2B-Pearce (J), Wangner (M). Records-Jackson 20-3 overall.
1A tri-district
Concrete 5, Cedar Park Christian 0: At Mount Vernon, Britt Howell pitched a near-perfect game to lead the Concrete Lions to their third consecutive tri-district title. Howell had the perfect game going into the sixth inning, when an error allowed a base runner. Howell helped her cause at the plate with a solo home run.
At Skagit Valley College Championship Game
Concrete3100100-561
Cedar Park Chr. 0000000-002
Howell and Swanson. Foulkes and Mattox, WP-Howell (14-2). LP-Foulkes. HR-Howell (Concrete). Records-Concrete 17-3 overall. Cedar Park Christian not reported.
Semifinal
Cascade Christian01000-100
Concrete2261x-11112
Taylor, Gehri (3) and Wilson. Howell and Swanson. WP-Howell (13-2) LP-Taylor. 2B-Howell (Concrete).
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