EVERETT — As a part of Mountlake Terrace’s impressive youth movement, Josh Fitch is a big reason why the Hawks won their second district baseball title in three years.
Fitch is one of five sophomores who start for the surging Mountlake Terrace High School baseball team. After making a stellar defensive play from his position at third base that helped keep the score tied at 3-3 in the fifth inning, Fitch smacked a run-scoring double to deep right field in the eighth inning that was the difference in Mountlake Terrace’s 4-3 triumph over the Kamiak Knights on Saturday in the Class 4A District 1 tournament championship at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Two other sophomores — left fielder Austin Johnson (2-for-4, a double, one RBI) and middle infielder Chris Hall (two RBI) — made big offensive contributions for Mountlake Terrace, which overcame a 3-0 deficit and edged their Western Conference South Division rival. Senior Andrew Woeck relieved starter Aaron Brooks on the mound in the fifth inning and earned the pitching victory for Terrace (17-6), which snared the District 1 No. 1 seed for the upcoming state tournament.
The Hawks are headed back to state after missing out last year. They won the district title in 2008.
“They’re all sweet,” Mountlake Terrace coach Andrew Watters said of district championships, “but this one’s been just thoroughly enjoyable because of the kids. This group has been a total pleasure to coach and they’ve come together as a team, and they’ve improved and come so far in such a quick time.”
“Lots of young players had clutch moments,” Watters added. “And watching our senior pitchers (Brooks and Woeck) do what they are doing — it’s all coming together. It’s a lot of fun.”
Mountlake Terrace plays the District 3 No. 4 seed at 10 a.m. on May 22 at Everett Memorial. Terrace earned the chance to play close to home again, in large part, because of Fitch, who drilled a fastball from Kamiak pitcher Andrew Groves over the head of right fielder Tyler Lambert with one out in the top of the eighth inning. Fitch’s hit drove in senior Ryan Fickle, who got on base with a single and stole second base before Fitch’s clutch double.
In the bottom of the eighth, Woeck (7-3) — who threw a two-hit shutout in a district semifinal win over Marysville-Pilchuck on Tuesday — gave up a single and a walk but struck out Kamiak designated hitter Blake Collins to end it.
Just like on Tuesday, on the same field, Woeck’s teammates mobbed him on the mound after the final out.
“It means everything,” Fitch said of winning the district title. “We didn’t expect it.”
The previously unbeaten Groves (9-1), Kamiak’s starting pitcher, was uncharacteristically wild (four walks, three hit batsmen) but battled and kept his team in the game. Seniors Chris Guinn, Jared Houghtaling (two RBI) and Jake Sortor (one double) all had two hits for the Knights, who are headed to state as the District 1 No. 2 seed. Kamiak (18-5) plays the District 3 No. 2 seed at 1 p.m. on May 22 at Memorial Park in Kent.
“Kamiak’s such a good team. They’re going to do well in state,” said coach Watters. “I would say Kamiak has a good possibility to get themselves to (Safeco Field, site of the state semifinals and finals on May 28-29). They’re as good as anybody.”
Kamiak was trying for the program’s first district championship. It also lost in its previous title-game appearance in 2003, according to Kamiak coach Steve Merkley. Despite his disappointment, Merkley appreciated the high quality and entertainment of Saturday’s game.
“That was fun, pitch by pitch,” he said. “It was a great atmosphere. It just ended wrong.”
District 1’s other 4A state-bound team is Shorewood, which beat Jackson 14-10 on Saturday in the third-place game at Snohomish High. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Everett Memorial, before the Mountlake Terrace-Kamiak game, but was moved because of extremely soggy conditions in the outfield and along the warning track caused by a sprinkler system mishap. The start of the Terrace-Kamiak game was delayed an hour while a crew prepped the waterlogged areas at Everett Memorial.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Mountlake Terrace 020 010 01 — 4 6 1
Kamiak 300 000 00 — 3 8 0
Brooks, Woeck (5) and Volpone. Groves and Houghtaling. WP-Woeck (7-3). LP-Groves (9-1). 2B-Johnson (MT), Fitch (MT), Sortor (K). Records-Mountlake Terrace 17-6. Kamiak 18-5.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
4A District 1 baseball tournament third-place game (winner to state, loser out)
Shorewood 14, Jackson 10: At Snohomish, Trevor Mitsui clubbed two home runs and drove in four runs to lead Shorewood to the winner-to-state, loser-out 4A District 1 playoff victory. The game was moved to Snohomish H.S. because of flooding in the outfield at Everett Memorial Stadium, where the sprinklers were left on all night. Shorewood advanced to the 4A state playoffs and will compete in Region III Saturday at Heidleberg Park in Tacoma. Also for Shorewood, Chris Heideger doubled, homered and drove in two runs. Blake Snell, Thomas Vincent, Connor McKeever and Jeremy Edwards each had two hits for Shorewood. Kyle Olson homered and drove in three runs for Jackson. Cole Plummer also had three RBI for Jackson. Kevin Moriarty, Shorewood’s starting pitcher, struck out 10 batters in five innings.
At Snohomish H.S.
Shorewood6050003—14144
Jackson0021070—1092
Moriarty, Torrence (6), Snell (6) and Vincent. Kiel, Schmale (3), Lang (3) and Olson, Flatt (5), Bealsey (6). WP—Moriarty. LP—Kiel. 2B—Heideger (S). HR—Mitsui (S) 2, Olson (J), Heideger (S). Records—Shorewood 16-9 overall. Jackson 17-7.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
