SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Lynnwood played its best game of the season to shock Shorecrest 6-2 May 18, and stay alive in the 3A District 1 playoffs at Janicki Fields in Sedro-Woolley.
Although Lynnwood’s season ended May 20 with a 10-1 loss to Sedro-Woolley, winning a district game for the first time in four years made the Royals’ season.
After eighth-seeded Lynnwood lost 14-1 in the opening round to Burlington-Edison, in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run mercy rule, most fans probably thought it would be a quick exit for the Royals against the Scots.
Think again.
Buoyed by solid pitching by Virginia Casuccio and stellar defense, the Royals capitalized on Shorecrest mistakes to nab the lead and never looked back.
Shortstop Jerrica Kang walked, stole second and scored on an error in the first inning to put Lynnwood on the board first. Shorecrest answered with an RBI single by Annie Collins in the bottom of the half of the inning.
Lynnwood scored the go-ahead run in the third on an RBI single by Stephanie Mohoric that scored Melissa Himes. The Royals tacked on three runs in the fourth on two wild pitches and a RBI groundout by Casuccio to take a 5-1 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Shorecrest loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Emma Snow, Alanna Schade and Bailey Osborn but Casuccio got Megan Zimbelman to pop-up and struck out Loraine Goodloe to end the threat.
Michelle Ulrich’s grounder drove in Kang in the sixth to stretch the lead to 6-1. Shorecrest scored a two-out run in the seventh on a dropped third strike and errant throw but Casuccio coaxed a pop-up from Snow to end the game.
“It was totally one of the highlights of my coaching career,” sixth-year head coach Jayme Horn said of the win.
The last time the Royals beat Shorecrest wasn’t clear but Scots’ coach Kristie Oglesby said she hadn’t lost to them in her seven years at Shorecrest.
After losing their first round game 8-6 to Sehome, after holding an early 6-1 lead, Shorecrest came out flat against Lynnwood. The Royals cheered loudly for their teammates from the dugout and the energy spilled onto the field.
“We’re really excited,” senior co-captain Natalie Harrison said.
The victory was the fourth of the year for the Royals, who finished 4-20.
“It’s not how many you get, it’s when you get them,” Casuccio said.
Horn said she’s been coaching this group of girls since they were seventh-graders and was proud to see them get the district victory they had wanted for so long.
“It was big for them,” she said. “It just proved they could do anything they set their mind to.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
