ARLINGTON — Lakewood broke open a 1-1 game with five runs in the fifth inning and the Cougars scored key 6-1 win over Cedarcrest to maintain sole possession of first place in the Cascade Conference.
The first seven Lakewood hitters reached base in the fifth, with the Cougars’ battery of pitcher Hailey Malakowski and catcher Mikayla Holmes each delivering two-run doubles.
After Peyton Cook started the inning by reaching on an error to lead off, Lakewood loaded the bases on singles from Paige Cook and Maddy Holmes. Mikayla Smith doubled to plate the Cook twins and following a walk to Tera Barrio to reload the bases, Malakowski doubled in two more to provide the final scoring of the contest.
Lakewood head coach Steve Barker liked the fact the bottom of the Lakewood order got the offense going.
“It was the eight and nine hitters (that started the inning off) and once we got to the top of our order, we strung together some hits and that’s when we are supposed to do that,” said Barker.
Kailyn Campbell led the Red Wolves’ offense, going 2-for-3 and driving in Taylor Turner in the first inning, but the rest of the Cedarcrest order mustered just one hit off of Malakowski.
“She was in control of the strikezone,” said Barker about Malakowski, who improved to 9-1 on the season.
With the win, Lakewood improved to 8-1 in the Cascade Conference and has now played nine league games to Cedarcrest’s six. The Cougars also earned a split of the season series with the Red Wolves and Cedarcrest now trails by a game in the loss column.
“We feel really good about where we’re at,” said Barker. “The five 2A teams (in the league) are so balanced so you cherish every win…every game is so close and you are ecstatic whe you win a game.”
At Lakewood H.S.
Cedarcrest1000000—132
Lakewood0010500—682
Stephanie Hall, Allie McCain (5) and LuAnn Townley. Hailey Malakowski and Mikayla Holmes. WP—Malakowski (9-1). LP—Hall. 2B—Holmes, Kiana Smith (L), Malokowski. Records—Cedarcrest 4-2 league, 4-2 overall. Lakewood 8-1, 9-2.
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