MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
A month ago Ryan Monfiletto had no idea if or when he would get a taste of varsity baseball action.
As a starting pitcher on Mountlake Terrace junior varsity team, he plugged away, hoping he’d eventually get a chance to shine for the top squad.
The door opened, and so far the junior right-hander has made the most of his varsity opportunity.
Monfiletto pitched two scoreless innings of relief Tuesday, April 3, to earn his first career save and help Terrace capture a 4-2 Western Conference South Division triumph over Kamiak.
Starting pitcher Jake Theis (2-0) got the victory and first baseman Karsten Strieby hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the third inning to fuel Terrace, which improved to 3-0 in division, 5-2 overall.
It’s still early in the season, but Terrace coach Andrew Watters said Tuesday’s result is extremely significant.
“When we look back, this is a huge win for us ‘cause (Kamiak is) a very good team. Any time in our league … that you can beat a quality team, I think you take a step up on everyone else. Our league’s so tough, so every win is precious right now.”
Michael Malland was 2-for-3 with a double and picked up the loss on the mound for Kamiak (3-2, 5-4). Chris Guinn gave the Knights their second and final lead with a run-scoring double in the top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, Strieby’s single to right field drove in Wes Pair and Garrett Totten, giving Terrace a 3-2 edge. Pair, who walked twice, led off with a double and Totten followed with a walk.
Terrace scored its final run in the fourth, and Theis (five hits allowed, five strikeouts) was relieved by Monfiletto, who held off Kamiak over the final two innings.
Monfiletto was promoted to the varsity after Terrace’s No. 1 starter, senior Josh Starkenburg, suffered a season-ending elbow injury March 20 against Lynnwood.
“He’s kind of earned his way up. That was big for him to get those six outs,” Watters said of Monfiletto.
Getting career save No. 1 was exciting, said Monfiletto, who allowed two hits but didn’t let a base runner advance past second base.
Was the not-so-recent JV player nervous?
“I felt fine going in,” Monfiletto said. “I mean, it’s baseball. It’s a game. You can’t really stress it.”
But a few seconds later, his true feelings spilled out:
“Honestly … I was scared to pitch against Kamiak ‘cause they’re super-good.”
Kamiak had some excellent opportunities to score, including a bases-loaded threat with one out in the fifth. But the Knights failed to cash in and stranded nine runners in all.
“They had the timely hit,” Kamiak coach Steve Merkley said, “and we didn’t.”
After it committed two early errors, Terrace’s defense came through later, turning inning-ending double plays in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the fifth, Terrace third baseman Pair gloved Ryan Johnson’s grounder, got a force out at third base and threw to first base in time to get Johnson and extinguish Kamiak’s bases-loaded situation.
In the sixth, Kamiak’s Cub Jansen led off with a single, but, following a strikeout by Monfiletto, Terrace escaped with another double play.
Kamiak’s string of consecutive victories ended at two, but the Knights get another chance to topple Terrace today.
Said Merkley, “That’s the good thing about baseball, is you play again tomorrow.”
Mike Cane writes for The Herald in Everett.
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