The weather is heating up in Snohomish County this week, and so are league title chases for prep baseball, softball and boys soccer teams.
With conference titles and playoff positioning on the line this week, here’s a look at where things stand:
Baseball
Jackson and Lake Stevens open a three-game series Tuesday at Jackson High School with the Wesco 4A title on the line. Both squads enter the series a perfect 6-0 in league play. The team’s meet again Wednesday at Lake Stevens with the winner of the first game having a chance to clinch the league title. If the teams split the first two games, Friday’s series finale at Jackson will determine the conference’s crown. All games are scheduled at 4 p.m.
Snohomish controls its own destiny this week as it enters with a one-game lead over Monroe and three games over both Stanwood and Arlington in Wesco 3A/2A North with three league games remaining. One win by the Panthers, who entered Monday 10-1 in league play, would eliminate Stanwood and Arlington from title contention and a second win would seal up the league title for Snohomish, which swept Monroe and Stanwood in two-game series earlier this season. The Panthers split with Arlington. Snohomish’s final three league games are against teams in the bottom half of the division, with one against Archbishop Murphy (5-6 league) and two versus Marysville Pilchuck (2-9). Snohomish and Archbishop Murphy were scheduled to play Monday.
Snohomish’s Nickolas Sakamoto rips a multi-bagger down the line during a game against Arlington April 14 at Earl Torgeson Field in Snohomish. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway is only one win away from securing a Wesco 3A/2A South league championship as it enters the week with an 11-1 league record and just two conference games remaining. The Warriors’ chances to clinch come Tuesday at home against third-place Meadowdale (7-5 league) and Thursday at Meadowdale. The Warriors could also clinch a league championship with a loss from second-place Shorewood (9-3), which split the season series with E-W and finishes the regular season with a two-game set against Cedarcrest (3-9).
Softball
Unbeaten Jackson has shown why it’s considered a top title contender in Class 4A this season while compiling a 13-0 record entering Monday, including a 2-0 start in what’s shaping up to be a gauntlet in Wesco 4A. The Timberwolves, who were ranked third nationally in the latest USA Today National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, have already knocked off top challengers Kamiak and Glacier Peak and can start to create some real separation in the title chase with games against Mariner (Monday), Kamiak (Tuesday) and Lake Stevens (Thursday). Lake Stevens (1-0 league) and Kamiak (1-1) could make things a bit more interesting if they can find a way to vanquish the mighty Timberwolves this week.
Macie Dean runs into home to score a run during the game against Kaimiak on April 11 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish entered Monday a perfect 8-0 in league play and held a one-game advantage in the loss column over Cascade (8-1) as Wesco 3A/2A softball teams hit the midpoint of conference action. The Panthers, who topped league contender Meadowdale (7-2 league) this past Saturday, host Cascade on Friday in a league showdown with title-race implications. A perfect 3-0 week from the Panthers would give the squad at least a two-game lead in Wesco 3A/2A with just four games remaining.
Boys soccer
Jackson sits in the driver’s seat of Wesco 4A as it enters the week with a two-point lead over Glacier Peak and just two league games remaining. The Timberwolves (5-1-0 league, 15 points) and Grizzlies (4-1-1, 13) face off Friday night in what could end up determining the conference championship. If Jackson wins Friday, the Timberwolves claim the crown outright. If GP wins Friday and Jackson loses to Kamiak on Tuesday, the Grizzlies claim the league championship. If GP wins Friday and Jackson wins or ties against Kamiak on Tuesday, the Grizzlies would play for a chance to secure an outright conference title against Lake Stevens on Monday, May 1.
Edmonds-Woodway defender Antony Cesar takes to the air to head the ball away against Shorewood on April 21 at Edmonds Stadium. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway and Shorewood, both 11-0-1 with 34 points in league play, hold a slim one-point lead of Shorecrest in the three-team race for the Wesco 3A/2A title. E-W and Shorewood played to a draw this past Friday in a massive league showdown. Both can clinch at least a share of a league title by winning their final three conference games. E-W’s remaining schedule includes matchups with above .500 teams Arlington (5-4-3 league) and Monroe (7-2-3). Shorewood’s final slate includes Cascade (6-4-2) and a season finale against rival Shorecrest (11-1-0) on Monday, May 1.
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