Prep baseball: Jackson qualifies for state tourney

EVERETT — On an afternoon of less than perfect baseball, the Jackson Timberwolves were steady enough and certainly opportunistic enough to defeat Monroe in a semifinal game of the District 1 Class 4A tournament.

Jackson’s 5-0 victory Monday clinches a spot in Thursday night’s district championship game against Lake Stevens and, more importantly, assures the Timberwolves of a place in the upcoming state tournament.

“My kids are great kids, and they’ve been battling all year,” said Jackson coach Kirk Nicholson, whose team will head to state for the third straight year. “All year long we’ve said, ‘Hey, guys, just keep the path, do what’s right and don’t worry about league play.

“We wanted to be ready for these two (district tournament) games because if you win two games at the end of the year, you go to state. And our guys did a nice job of that.”

The Timberwolves won behind the strong outing of starting pitcher Jaris Beasley, who checked Monroe on just three hits, and an offense that managed only four hits but took advantage of three walks and six costly Bearcat errors.

One of those errors was more costly than all the rest — if it actually was an error, that is.

After scoring once in the third inning, Jackson pushed across four unearned runs in the fifth, including three runs that scored on the game’s most pivotal and certainly most controversial play. The Timberwolves loaded the bases with no outs and got their first run of the inning, and their second of the game, on a four-pitch walk to Jeremy Spring.

Alex Baumgartner followed with a bouncer to Monroe shortstop Dakota Ralph. His throw to catcher Joseph Goguen forced out Jackson’s Joakim Soderqvist coming down the line from third, but Goguen’s throw to first base for a double play attempt sailed down the right field line.

Two runs scored initially, and when the ball kicked past right fielder Andy Zimmerman in the corner Baumgartner hustled around for the inning’s fourth run.

Bearcats coach Eric Chartrand was immediately out of the dugout, contending that Soderqvist had bumped Goguen.

“The kid obviously hit my catcher’s arm,” Chartrand insisted later, “and that was not called. … That’s a throwing error that’s really not an error because his arm got hit while he was trying to throw. But the umpire said he didn’t see that portion of the play.”

It was, Nicholson said, a “tough call there at home plate where they threw it away.”

That play aside, the Bearcats still made five other errors, including two others in Jackson’s four-run fifth. Only one of the Timberwolves’ five runs was earned.

Monroe had been playing good defense late in the season, Chartrand said, “but these kids had never been here (in the playoffs) before and I think it caught up with them. We had a lot of nerves, and the mistakes we made we don’t normally make.

“We played a really good baseball team and we made too many mistakes,” he said, “and that’s going to cost you a ballgame.”

Otherwise, the difference in the game was Beasley. He allowed no more than one base runner an inning in his six-plus innings (other than two in the first, the result of an error), and no Monroe runner reached third base until the seventh when Beasley was on the bench.

“I was sort of struggling in the beginning, but in the later innings I felt better,” said the senior right-hander. “I wasn’t at my sharpest, but I had a great defense behind me backing me up.”

Jackson’s defense was particularly sterling in the fourth, with Soderqvist making a headlong diving catch to take a leadoff hit away from Goguen. After a Bearcats base hit, T-wolves third baseman Aaron Avalos made a tough snag near the bag of a hard smash by Monroe’s Patrick Siler and turned it into a terrific 5-4-3 double play.

In the end, “it was a hard-fought game,” Nicholson said. “I’m not sure we were any better than them, but I think some things just bounced our way.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Jackson 001 040 0—5 4 2

Monroe 000 000 0—0 3 0

Beasley, Wingert (7) and Kiel; Siler, Spahman (6), Murphy (7) and Goguen. WP—Beasley. LP—Siler. Records—Jackson is 13-7. Monroe is 7-15.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Stanwood players cheer as pitcher Addi Anderson lifts the 3A District 1 Championship trophy in the air after beating Sedro-Woolley for the title on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood softball ekes out District 1 3A title

The Spartans defeat top seed Sedro-Woolley 2-1 in 10 innings thanks to Addi Anderson’s gem.

Snohomish’s Abby Edwards yells after beating Edmonds-Woodway in the 3A District 1 consolation game on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish softball punches state tournament ticket

The Panthers stay hot after slow start to season with 12-2 win against Edmonds-Woodway.

Lake Stevens shortstop Aspen Alexander nearly makes a sliding play in the field during a playoff loss to Bothell on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Thursday, May 15

Lake Stevens clinches first state berth in eight years.

Monroe’s Hadley Oylear fields the ball during the game against Stanwood on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Thursday, May 15

Monroe, Snohomish and Edmonds-Woodway clinch state spots.

Prep boys soccer roundup for Thursday, May 15

Lake Stevens clinches state berth, Archbishop Murphy avoids elimination

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 4-10

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 4-10. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Jackson’s Chanyoung Park putts during the 4A District 1 Golf Tournament at Snohomish Golf Course on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chanyoung Park, Jackson girls golf claim District 1 4A titles

The sophomore headlines the Timberwolves’ underclassmen trio on the road to state.

Jackson's Gracie Schouten warms up before a District 1 4A playoff match on May 14, 2025 at Mill Creek Tennis Club. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Jackson, Glacier Peak and Mariner girls tennis secure state spots

Jackson took first and second in singles; Glacier Peak won doubles at the District 1 4A Tournament.

Shorewood's Rylie Gettmann hits the ball during a Class 3A District 1 girls tennis tournament at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Shorewood’s Rylie Gettmann four-peats as district tennis champ

Mari Brittle and Bridget Cox completed a Stormrays sweep with the doubles title.

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Nielsen runs across home plate during the game against Issaquah on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Wednesday, May 14

Grizzlies roar back to earn state softball bid.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) reacts after sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Andrew Mills / Tribune News Services)
NFL releases Seahawks’ 2025 schedule

Early DK Metcalf reunion, SF opener, 4 primetime games highlight slate.

Sonics’ return? NBA commissioner talks expansion

By now, it’s like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet.… Continue reading

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.