MUKILTEO — Kamiak’s Jocelynn Blackshear hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning and the Knights went on to earn a 6-3 win over Lynnwood to clinch a Wesco 4A district tournament berth on Monday.
“We’re pretty excited (about securing a playoff berth),” Kamiak head coach Nicole Kellar said. “We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but the girls have really pulled it together and we’re finishing on a high note. Hopefully it will carry on into the district tournament.”
Leading 2-1, Kamiak (5-9 league, 7-12 overall) loaded the bases with two outs in the third. Blackshear fell behind 1-2, but hammered Erica Gott’s next pitch over the left-center field wall for her third home run of the season. The junior finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI.
The grand slam supplied all the run support Kamiak starter Alisa Ortega needed. Ortega threw a complete game to pick up her fifth win of the year and the senior was excited to play in her last home game according to Kellar.
“She was really motivated,” said Kellar. “It was senior night, all the seniors were really fired up. She was just ready to go from warmups and threw pretty good gas most of the game.”
Gott led the Lynnwood offense, going 2-for-4 with a two-run single in the fifth.
The teams traded sacrifice flies in the first, with the Royals’ Sarah Sohaly driving in Desiree Graham to open the scoring. Kamiak tied the game when Emily Ginestra’s fly ball scored Lindsay Haub, who had tripled.
Blackshear led off the second with a triple and scored on Annie Weaver’s RBI fielder’s choice to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.
Lynnwood (4-10, 6-13) is tied with Edmonds-Woodway for the fourth and final district berth with one game left for each team. On Wednesday, the Royals host Jackson, while Edmonds-Woodway plays at Cascade.
At Kamiak H.S.
Lynnwood 100 020 0—3 7 2
Kamiak 114 000 x—6 10 3
Erica Gott, Jessica Gott (4) and Alayne Koahou, E. Gott (4). Alisa Ortega and Lindsay Haub. WP—Ortega (5-8). LP—E. Gott. 3B—Haub, Jocelynn Blacksheer (K). HR—Blackshear. Records—Lynnwood 4-10 league, 6-13 overall. Kamiak 5-9, 7-12.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
