Snohomish softball clinches state berth with win over Everett

EVERETT — When high school state softball tournaments return next week one of their most frequent visitors will fittingly be there.

Evy Massena drove in four runs and Skyla Bristol plated three more as top-seeded Snohomish pulled out a back-and-forth 15-14 victory over fifth-seeded Everett in a winner-to-state Class 3A District 1 tournament semifinal game Tuesday at Phil Johnson Ballfields.

The Panthers (19-3) clinched their seventh consecutive state berth with the win. They advance to face second-seeded Cascade in the district title game 6 p.m. Thursday at Phil Johnson Ballfields.

Everett (16-5) falls to the consolation bracket and faces seventh-seeded Marysville Getchell in a winner-to-state game 4 p.m. Thursday at Phil Johnson Ballfieds.

Bristol went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple and Massena was 2-for-5 with a double. Kendall Sage added two RBI and went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, and Alli Wilson and Emma Hansen each chipped in two RBI for the Panthers.

Shayne Hoekendorf went 3-for-4 with four RBI and Riannon Botz homered and drove in five runs during a 2-for-4 day at the plate for the Seagulls.

Snohomish used a six-run second inning to take an 8-4 lead.

Everett scored five runs in the fourth, including a three-run home run by Hoekendorf, to take an 11-9 lead.

But the Panthers answered back with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to go up 14-11.

“The girls did a really good job of just knowing we needed shots when we needed shots,” Panthers coach Patti Lande said. “I’ve got kids that can put it out of the park, but instead of going for out of the park, they were going for shots. I just kept saying, ‘Let’s go one hit at a time.’”

The Seagulls had the tying run on first base in the top of the seventh but Snohomish pitcher Alex Flohr was able to induce a groundout to shortstop that ended the game.

Snohomish beat Marysville Pilchuck 13-2 in its quarterfinal matchup earlier in the day.

Everett knocked off Monroe 5-3 in its quarterfinal game.

Everett’s Taylor Millar winds up before delivering a pitch against Snohomish during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish’s Skyla Bristol watches the ball fly after getting a hit against Everett during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett’s Isa Davis throws over to first against Snohomish during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish’s Skyla Bristol pitches against Everett during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett’s Riannon Botz rounds the bases after launching a home run against Snohomish during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish’s Hurley Mersberg speeds through second base against Everett during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett’s Maddie Pewitt gets on base with a hit through the infield against Snohomish during Tuesday’s Class 3A District 1 matchup at the Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)