Terrace loses in seventh

LAKE STEVENS

Pressure? What pressure?

Once again, the Lake Stevens High School baseball team refused to crumble in a potentially nerve-frying situation. The resilient Vikings are developing quite a reputation.

Thanks to its two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lake Stevens came from behind to outlast Mountlake Terrace 3-2 May 5 in a first-round Class 4A District 1 tournament game.

Brett Dvorak hit a game-winning, line-drive single to left field that drove in pinch-runner J.J. McCarthy. Dvorak, a senior shortstop, was 0-for-3 before generating the clutch, bases-loaded hit. It boosted Lake Stevens’ record to 7-0 in games decided by one run this season.

“I don’t ever pull balls (to left field), actually. It was pretty exciting,” said Dvorak, the No. 2 hitter whose big hit came on a 3-1 fastball on the inside part of the strike zone from Mountlake Terrace reliever Ryan Sells.

Said Dvorak, “Oh man, it felt great.”

Catcher Dane Gilbertson was 3-for-3 for Wesco North No. 1 seed Lake Stevens.

After struggling to do much against Terrace starting pitcher Jake Theis (61/3 innings, five strikeouts) for most of the game, Lake Stevens scored twice in its final at-bat. The Vikings tied it when Matt Blacken scored on Travis Egbert’s bases-loaded groundout. Earlier, Blacken reached first base on a throwing error and advanced on back-to-back infield singles by Dominic Pulitano and Ben Nelson.

After Cody Porter was hit by a pitch, McCarthy, who ran for Pulitano, crossed home plate on Dvorak’s scorcher to left.

“We just knew we could do it. … We just knew we were coming back,” said Dvorak, who plans to play for Bellevue Community College. “We feel (the pressure), but not nearly as much as you might think.”

Lake Stevens coach Rodger Anderson attributed his team’s success in close games to heart and senior leadership.

“I think that’s what’s (carrying) us. We have awesome kids who keep everybody up,” he said.

One of those Lake Stevens seniors, Landon Smith, came up with a solid pitching performance. Despite having uncharacteristically iffy control (six walks), Smith threw all seven innings and improved his record to 7-0.

Theis appeared on his way to an impressive victory for Wesco South No. 4 seed Mountlake Terrace. But with one out and two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, Terrace coach Andrew Watters pulled Theis in favor of Sells.

“We just thought it was time for a change,” Watters said. “Ryan, who we brought in, has a little bit different stuff and a different look than Jake. We thought it was just time for him to come in and get a couple outs, but it didn’t work out.”

Dvorak had a lot to do with that. The senior is very talented but sometimes lacks confidence, Anderson said. Dvorak’s latest effort should provide a major self-esteem boost.

“I think sometimes he thinks a little bit too much up there (at the plate),” Anderson said. “That time, he just went up and hit.”

Wes Pair and Paul Clingan had two hits apiece for Mountlake Terrace, which nearly pulled off an upset of the North No. 1 seed for the second straight year. In 2006 the Hawks surprised top-seeded Monroe in the first round.

Mike Cane writes for The Herald in Everett.

Marysville-Pilchuck 4, Mountlake Terrace 2

Kyle Mallory was 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI to help lead the Tomahawks to the victory in the loser-out District 1 playoff game. The Hawks finished the season 10-13 overall.