MOUNT VERNON
Chris Johnson and his Meadowdale teammates made quick work in winning their second consecutive 3A District 1 championship May 10 as they dispatched the Everett Seagulls 3-1 in about 65 minutes at Sherman Anderson Ballpark in Mount Vernon.
Johnson, the Mavericks’ No. 3 starter during the season, struck out three and scattered six hits while allowing one run – the only run Meadowdale pitchers allowed during three district tournament games – in six innings of work.
“Awesome, just awesome,” Meadowdale coach Bill Hummel said of Johnson’s performance. “All his starts have been quality starts and he’s a strike thrower and that’s why we were out of here in 65 minutes … he just gets on the mound and deals.”
With the victory, Meadowdale advances to the 3A Region 1 Tournament at Sherman Anderson Field in Mount Vernon on Saturday, May 17.
“It’s a great feeling to accomplish one of our goals and get back to state and give ourselves a chance to get back to Safeco (Field),” Hummel said, referring to the site of the 3A and 4A state semifinals and finals.
On Saturday, Johnson provided the strikes and his infielders provided the defense as the Mavericks recorded 12 ground ball outs.
“Our defense came up big,” Johnson said. “This is probably the best game we’ve played defensively – no errors.”
Everett starter Jake Frauenholtz also pitched well, scattering six hits and surrendering just two earned runs while going the distance. He faltered briefly in the third when he hung a curveball to Meadowdale’s Chase Anselment. The Mavs’ catcher launched a home run that landed well beyond the right field fence.
Meadowdale added two more runs in the fifth. Andy Lyon drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Matt Gorman. Gorman advanced to third on a single by Johnson and scored when the Everett catcher overthrew the shortstop on a stolen base attempt by Johnson’s courtesy runner.
Everett got one back in the top of the sixth when an RBI groundout by David Andre scored Frauenholtz, but that was all they could muster.
Anselment pitched a perfect seventh for the save.
Jesse Geleynse writes for The Herald in Everett.
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