SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The Everett Seagulls felt like they had some unfinished business after losing last season’s 3A District 1 championship game to Mount Vernon.
On Saturday, they used a six-run third inning to exact their pound of flesh from the Bulldogs, claiming the 2008 3A District 1 championship and a state berth with a 6-2 victory at Janicki Fields.
“It’s so nice to beat them,” said Everett senior Ally Pappas. “Coming back this season and giving it all we’ve got is a great feeling, especially to come out ahead so quick.”
“We felt like they stole one from us last year,” added Everett coach Kyle Peacocke. “We wanted to get that trophy back and get the No.1 seed for our district.”
Everett advances to its fourth consecutive state tournament and looks to improve on last season’s performance when it advanced to the tournament’s second day but did not place.
“It’s almost like we’re expecting (to qualify for state),” Pappas said. “We forget how big a deal it is to make it to districts and state since we’ve done it for four years in a row. Looking back, it does mean a lot especially for us seniors — it’s huge.”
The Seagulls spotted the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as a wild pitch from starter Cory Mattson scored Kierstin Anderson who had singled with one out.
Everett answered with all the offense it would need in the top of the third inning. Valerie Stahl led off with a double and Alexandra Hudson, Mattson, Elizabeth Reed and Pappas followed with four consecutive singles to give Everett a 2-1 lead and chase Mount Vernon starter Devin Hiltz.
“That kind of ignited our whole dugout,” Peacocke said of his team’s five consecutive hits. “It was a total team effort with the bats in that inning.”
Bulldogs reliever Cheyenne Walker walked Stephanie Monson to force in Mattson before getting Lauren Hope and Chailah Formon to strike out. When Walker coaxed Anna Hudson to hit a fly ball to right field, she seemed to have pitched out of a jam. But Mount Vernon’s right fielder dropped the ball and allowed two more runs to score. Monson capped Everett’s six-run inning when she came home on a wild pickoff throw from the Bulldogs catcher.
Everett had a chance to add to their lead in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out on a double by Pappas, a single by Monson and a walk to Hope. But Walker struck out Formon and got Anna Hudson to hit a line-drive to the third baseman, who doubled up Pappas for the inning-ending double play.
It turned out to be more than Mattson needed as the senior allowed one run and two hits after the first inning. She finished with 10 strikeouts while walking just two.
Pappas was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Monson had two hits and scored a run to lead the Seagulls.
Now Everett turns its attention to the state tournament.
“We want to play well,” Peacocke said. “We got to Saturday last year and we want to get to Saturday again and hopefully go farther.”
At Janicki Fields
Everett0060000—6100
Mt. Vernon1001100—232
Mattson and Hudson. Hiltz, Walker (3) and Barnett. WP—Mattson. LP—Hiltz. 2B—Stahl (E), Pappas (E), Anderson (MV). Records—Everett 18-4. MV 19-3.
Sedro-Woolley 1, Arlington 0 (9 innings): At Sedro-Woolley, the Eagles saw their season come to an end with an extra-inning loss as the Cubs avenged a 1-0 opening-round loss to Arlington. Christina Rayner was the hard-luck loser for the Eagles as she gave up a game-winning RBI double to Sedro-Woolley’s Sarah Moquin — the only hit the Cubs had — in the bottom of the ninth inning.
At Janicki Fields
Arlington000000000—020
Sedro-W.000000001—111
Rayner and Johnson. Brewer and Best. WP—Brewer. LP—Rayner. 2B—Moquin (SW), Basher (A). Records—Arlington 12-12. Sedro-Woolley 19-5.
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