MONROE — Last year, the Stanwood Spartans defeated the Arlington Eagles in a winner-to-state/loser-out game at the 4A District 1 tournament.
Thursday, the Spartans provided a little deja vu.
For the second straight season the Spartans earned a trip to state and knocked out the Eagles, this time with a 10-5 victory.
Sammy Bingham’s bat was largely responsible for the Spartans victory. Bingham’s five RBI off two home runs proved to be the difference.
With two outs and two on in the bottom of the third inning, Bingham came to the plate and hit a shot over the fence in straight-away center field to put the Spartans ahead 3-0.
“I just tell myself to relax up there and wait for a good pitch,” Bingham said.
Stanwood held the lead until the top of the fifth inning when Arlington’s bats woke up.
Spartans starting pitcher Brittany Jeans had given up just two hits in the first four innings, but with one out Rachel Backlund changed all that with a double to left field.
Lynsey Amundson followed with a double of her own to score Backlund and cut the Arlington deficit to 3-1. One out later, with two on, freshman pitcher Veronica Ladines hit a three-run home run to give Arlington a 4-3 lead.
The Arlington lead didn’t even last a full inning, as the Spartans responded in the bottom of the fifth.
“We don’t give up, we go as hard as we can every inning,” Bingham said.
Shawna Hochstetler hit an infield single to score Elizabeth Barnes from third to tie the score at 4-4.
Later, with nobody out and the bases loaded, Ladines walked Tori Kriegel to force in a run and give Stanwood a 5-4 lead.
Two more runs scored for Stanwood when a fly ball hit by Stephanie Turner was dropped in right field. Jeans laid down a bunt single down the third base line to score Kriegel and give Stanwood an 8-4 advantage.
“It’s huge to have a team that can hit. We have to support her the best that we can,” Bingham said of the offense backing up its pitcher Jeans.
Arlington cut the lead to 8-5 with a run in the sixth, but Bingham struck again in the bottom half of the inning.
With a runner on, Bingham jumped on the first pitch she saw and drove it over the left center field fence to give the Spartans a 10-5 lead.
Jeans took care of the rest in the top of the seventh as Arlington had a ground out, fly out and strike out to end the game.
This was the second straight year that a loss on the first day of the district tournament by the Spartans meant that they would have to win both of their games on the second day to get into state. Thanks to Bingham’s bat, it was the second year they succeeded.
They set their goals early on in the season and they stick to them. If they have to take the long route to get there, then they take the long route to get there,” Stanwood coach Cherlyn Schander said.
The Spartans will look to improve on their seventh place finish at state last year, when the tournament kicks off in Tacoma next weekend.
The Spartans beat Snohomish 12-2 in six innings earlier in the day on Thursday to earn a spot in the winner-to-state/loser-out game. Arlington earned its spot in the game by defeating Monroe 8-7 in eight innings.
At Sky River Park
Arlington0000410—582
Stanwood003052x—10133
Ladines and Amundson. Jeans and Bingham. WP—Jeans (17-5). LP—Ladines. 2B—Crane (S), Jeans (S) 2, Backlund (A), Amundson (A). HR—Bingham (S) 2, Ladines (A). Records—Arlington 16-7 overall. Stanwood 17-5.
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