MONROE
The Jackson softball team wasn’t able to overcome a lack of offense against Lake Stevens.
The Timberwolves managed only five hits in a 2-0 loss to the Western Conference North Division No. 2 seed in a winner-to-state District 1 tournament game May 17 at Sky River Park.
“I thought early in the game we weren’t as aggressive maybe as we should have been,” Jackson head coach Mike Moran said. “We just weren’t getting square swings. … We just didn’t hit this afternoon. I guess it’s one of those things that happens.”
Lake Stevens pitcher Athea Surface allowed only five hits in the complete-game performance. The Timberwolves advanced only three runners to second base the entire game.
“They’re a tough team,” Moran said of the Vikings. “They’re always here (districts). They know how to play. They’re well-coached.”
Jackson starter Lauren Reid, who pitched a complete game in the Wolfpack’s 2-1 first-round win over Snohomish, was lifted in for Tamara Priebe in the second inning after allowing back-to-back singles to open the inning.
Priebe gave up an RBI single by sophomore Jordan Ramsey and then retired Britney Running and Danie Birklid. Senior Christina deMuleneare then hit an infield single to the shortstop that drove in another run as Lake Stevens took a 2-0 lead.
The Jackson senior pitcher then settled down and blanked the Vikings the rest of the way. Priebe worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings when Lake Stevens advanced runners into scoring position.
“Our pitching held up,” Moran said. “They had the one inning (where) they had a couple of hits that got runs.
“She (Priebe) kept us right in the game. … We just couldn’t string anything together.”
In a first-round game against Snohomish, Reid’s bid for a no-hitter was foiled in the top of the seventh, but Jackson still prevailed 2-1.
Reid ended up allowing only two hits and did not allow a Panther to reach base until the sixth when she issued her one and only walk.
“She was on her game,” Moran said. “Her and (catcher) Kristin (Cole) were really in synch. They did fabulous.”
Senior Jenna Mohrweis was the Wolfpack’s spark plug on offense. Mohrweis opened the first inning with an infield single, stole second and then came home on Taryn Pearce’s double to right field.
Mohrweis again used her speed in the third by beating out the throw from the third baseman to an infield single. She stole second, advanced to third on a bunt by Nena Slocum and scored on a bunt single by Carly McEachran.
“She got on base a couple of times,” Moran said of Mohrweis. “That’s what we needed. That’s what any team needs is someone at the top of the order to make things happen.
In the top of the seventh, Snohomish junior Jen Turner doubled to deep center field to break up Reid’s no-hitter. Reid then got junior Elizabeth Lusko to pop out to shortstop Ashley Todd. Junior Taylor Steed then grounded out first baseman Pearce, which enabled Turner to take third base. Senior Alex Riedeman then singled to right field to drive in Turner.
Reid then got sophomore Breonna Chrisman to pop out to Pearce to end the game.
“She wanted to go out and finish (the game) and she did,” Moran said of Reid. “She had a great game.”
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