Snohomish trounces Lake Stevens for title

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, May 12, 2007

EVERETT – When a baseball player cranks a particularly mighty home run at Everett Memorial Stadium and someone mentions Travis Snider, you know you’ve witnessed something special.

Snider, a 2006 Jackson High School graduate who now plays in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, is known for blasting a homer in his high school days that soared out of the stadium and landed on Broadway. It’s one of the most talked-about local sports feats in recent memory.

Snohomish High junior Derek Jones has a ways to go before he can attain the status of Snider, but in at least one sense – the ability to absolutely crush the ball – he and Snider share an admirable gift.

Jones launched an eye-popping three-run homer during Snohomish’s six-run first inning. The blast helped the Panthers pummel Lake Stevens 14-3 Saturday in the Class 4A District 1 championship game.

Jones, who hit his sixth home run of the season and drove in four runs, also earned the pitching victory. The left-hander allowed three runs and nine hits and escaped a few tight spots to improve his season record to 7-1 and lead Snohomish (19-4 overall) to its first district title since 2001.

Snohomish, which split its two-game regular-season series with Lake Stevens (18-5), needed just six innings to defeat the Vikings thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.

“We were just hitting the ball today all over the place. Everybody’s up, everybody’s cheering. To be a part of it feels great,” said Snohomish designated hitter Ethan Hargrave, who had a team-high three hits, including two doubles, and was one of seven Panthers with at least one RBI.

Nick Hammons and Nate Mullins drove in two runs apiece for Snohomish, which earned a top seed and plays the District 3 No. 5 seed Kentwood in a regional semifinal game 10 a.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial.

Jones escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and stranded two Lake Stevens runners in the third en route to a solid five-inning outing. For the second straight game Snohomish’s defense turned two double plays.

While the Snohomish defense had another sparkling performance, the team’s hitters came through time after time.

“We had a number of clutch hits,” Snohomish coach Kim Hammons said, citing Jones’ massive homer that appeared to travel well over 400 feet and made the score 3-0.

“They should serve drinks on that one,” Hammons said of the incredible height and distance of Jones’ shot, which soared over the right-field scoreboard and above the netting that usually traps home run balls.

“I’ve seen some balls hit off that net,” said Hammons, “but I don’t think I’ve seen any hit over it. … That’s probably the farthest home run I’ve seen him hit. That was a Snider home run right there.”

Alex Bruun (3-for-3, one run scored) and Dominic Pulitano (two RBI) were the hitting standouts for Lake Stevens, which shared the regular season Wesco North championship with Snohomish. Lake Stevens plays the District 3 No. 1 seed Tahoma in a regional semifinal game 10 a.m. Saturday at Kent Memorial Stadium.

After coming from behind to win several times this season, Lake Stevens was unable to recover from Snohomish’s early onslaught. The Vikings trailed 8-0 by the bottom of the third.

“We had some opportunities to get back into it early and we didn’t take advantage of them,” said Lake Stevens coach Rodger Anderson, whose team left five total runners on base in the second and third innings.

Jones’ home run in the first went a long way toward sinking Lake Stevens.

“Something like that probably affects us more than if they string together three or four (singles),” Anderson said.

Jones’ home run came on a 3-1 count. Lake Stevens starting pitcher Kevin Hawkesworth left a fastball up in the zone and Jones absolutely mashed it.

Said Anderson, “That ball was crushed.”

At Everett Memorial Stadium

Snohomish602042-14110

Lake Stevens002100-3102

Hawkesworth, Smith (1), D. Pulitano (5), J. Pulitano (6) and Gilbertson. Jones, West (6) and Chandler. WP-Jones (7-1). LP-Hawkesworth. 2B-Allen (S), Wolfe (S), Hargrave (S) 2, Hammons (S). HR-Jones (S), Nelson (LS). Records-Snohomish 19-4 overall. Lake Stevens 18-5.