MARYSVILLE — The sun finally shined down during a softball game Monday between Monroe and Marysville Pilchuck.
Meanwhile, Rachael Delamare shined on the field.
Delamare batted 4-for-4 with two triples, an RBI double and a run scored as Monroe defeated Marysville Pilchuck 7-5 in the Wesco North opener for both teams.
“She’s a tough out,” said Monroe head coach Curt Eskeback. “She battles. She hits the ball hard.”
The sophomore’s leadoff triple to left field in the top of the second inning helped spark a four-run inning for the Bearcats that put them up early.
Monroe added two runs in the sixth and one more in the top of the seventh, with Delamare’s RBI double, another deep shot to left field that hit the outfield fence as it came down.
“Our girls battle all the time,” Eskeback said. “They’re a great group of kids.”
Alyssa Egan (4-1) got the win for the Bearcats, pitching all seven innings and finishing with seven strikeouts.
Egan also had a solid day at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with two doubles, including one that drove in two runs in the fourth inning.
“That’s a good hitting team,” said Aaron Zachry, the Marysville Pilchuck head coach.
Monroe needed all the runs it could get, as Marysville Pilchuck mounted a late rally. The Tomahawks scored five runs in the final two innings, but MP still fell two runs short.
Jordan Nicholson had a two-run single in the sixth inning to get MP on the board. In the bottom of the seventh, Abi Otto notched an RBI while grounding into a fielder’s choice. The next batter, Haley Fritz, hit a two-run home run — with two outs — that scored Casey Zachry and got the Tomahawk fans excited.
But the next MP batter grounded out to end the game.
“We had a chance,” Zachry said.
In the end, Zachry said defensive struggles and errors negated a solid outing by starting pitcher Monica Clow, who only allowed four earned runs.
“If we can get five runs for Monica we should win games,” Zachry said. “She’s that good of pitcher. But we have to play defense.”
Zachry said that Marysville Pilchuck (0-1 league, 5-1 overall) is still working on changes and adjustments to its lineup this early in the season. He looks forward to the second game against Monroe later on in the season, when the Tomahawks might have things a bit more figured out.
“It’s still early,” Zachry said. “We’re young. We’re still messing with things. We’re not sure who’s where right now.”
The Marysville Pilchuck coach did see one positive thing while in the dugout Monday that he hadn’t seen for a while at a softball game: the sun.
“It’s about time,” Zachry said.
Haley Thompson led the Tomahawks, batting 2-for-3 and reaching base on a strikeout after the ball got past Delamare, the Monroe catcher. Fritz was 2-for-4 with the homer, two RBI and two runs scored.
Eskeback was happy to start the non-conference schedule off with a win, but cautioned that the Bearcats (1-0, 4-1) still have a tough week ahead of them, with games scheduled against Snohomish (4-1 overall heading into Monday’s game against Arlington) and Lake Stevens (2-4).
“It’s a good win,” Eskeback said. “A good way to start the week. We’ve still got a big week ahead of us.”
At Marysville Pilchuck H.S.
Monroe0402001—7112
Marysville Pilchuck0000023—592
Alyssa Egan and Rachael Delamare. Monica Clow and Jessica Christensen. WP–Egan (4-1). LP–Clow. 2B–Egan (M) 2, Delamore (M). 3B–Delamore (M) 2. HR–Haley Fritz (MP). Records–Monroe 1-0 league, 4-1 overall. Marysville Pilchuck 0-1, 5-1.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
