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North County Outlook

Local teams excel in softball tourney

Nathan Whalen
May 17, 2022 Updated May 17, 2022

Arlington, Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck softball teams kicked off the District 1, 3A tournament with first round victories on May 13.

Marysville Pilchuck topped Mount Vernon 7-6 in eight innings, Marysville Getchell topped Meadowdale 11-4 and Arlington topped Mountlake Terrace 13-3 in five innings. The three schools played at Phil Johnson fields in Everett.

“It’s special to know there’s so much talent,” Arlington head coach Hayden Fields-Raught said of the success the Arlington and Marysville schools in the first round.

Marysville Pilchuck fielded nine players in their victory against the Bulldogs. “When you have nine, you need everyone,” Tomahawk coach Aaron Zachry said. Marysville Pilchuck finished with a 7-13 record overall and was seeded ninth in the district tournament.

Senior Emily Downing scored the winning run on a passed ball in the extra inning. Junior Meliah Bertapelle scored two runs, Downing scored two runs, and threw 12 strikeouts. Senior Grace Davis scored two runs.

Freshman Erin Fischer hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Katelynn Borquez hit a double late in the game. “It was good to see her have success,” Zachry said.

In the sixth inning, senior Katelynn Borquez had a nice catch in right field to end the sixth inning when Mount Vernon had runners in scoring position, Zachry said.

“I’m loaded with seniors,” Zachry said. “For a lot of them, it’s going to be their last game. They’re not ready to hang up their cleats.”

After extending their lead to 10 runs in the fifth inning, Arlington’s playoff game against Mountlake Terrace was called due to the 10-run rule.

“This team is catching fire and it’s fun to watch,” Fields-Raught said. The Eagles, who are 15-5 overall and 12th in the WIAA RPI rankings, have won eight consecutive games. They were seeded sixth in the tournament.

She said senior pitcher Lizzie Durfee pitched an awesome game. Junior Maddy Fischer had a home run and then a triple in the fifth inning that scored three runs. Fischer, junior Tayler Stevens, and senior Lexi Eck hit home runs in the fourth inning.

Marysville Getchell scored two home runs in the first inning in their win against Mountlake Terrace.

“We knew we had to come out and score and we did,” Charger softball coach Mike Moran said. “They’re a good hitting team.”

He complimented the performance of pitcher, senior Morgan Epperson. “She threw the ball where she needed to throw it.”

Epperson also hit two home runs and junior Teagan Carroll hit one home run. Freshman Lily Balgos had a couple of hits and a couple of RBIs, Moran said.

“Our whole lineup had some really good at-bats,” Moran said.

Marysville Getchell finished 11-9 overall in Wesco and was seeded seventh in the district tournament.

The tournament continued May 17 at Phil Johnson ball fields in Everett with Arlington, Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck each playing two games.

Arlington played third seeded Shorewood, Marysville Getchell played second seed Cascade, and Marysville Pilchuck played top-seeded Snohomish. Those games were played after the North County Outlook went to press.

Lakewood, which is in the Northwest Conference, is the three-seed in the District 1, 2A tournament. They start tournament play May 18 against Squalicum at Janicki Fields. Game time is 4 p.m.

Getchell takes inaugural Berry Bash 6-1

Nathan Whalen
Apr 12, 2022 Updated Apr 12, 2022

Softball players from both Marysville high schools played a game on the city’s Little League field.

The inaugural Berry Bash, which took place at Cedar Field near downtown, saw Marysville Getchell top Marysville Pilchuck 6-1 during a well-attended, brisk evening under the lights April 3.

“Both teams played hard,” Marysville Getchell coach Mike Moran said. “We had hits early when we needed them.”

He complimented the efforts of senior pitcher Morgan Epperson, who threw 12 strikeouts and two walks. “She had a good game going. She was perfect through six-and-a-third innings.”

Epperson was hitting the strike zone and was always ahead in the pitch count, Moran said.

“We weren’t ready for that pitching,” Marysville Pilchuck coach Aaron Zachry said.

He added the Tomahawks committed four errors during the Berry Bash.

“You’re not going to win a lot of games if you don’t hit and make mistakes,” Zachry said.

Marysville Getchell got on the scoreboard in the first inning when sophomore catcher Hayden Kranz hit a double and scored Epperson and sophomore Katelyn Maneval.

The Chargers extended their lead on the third inning when Maneval scored on a single from freshman outfielder Emme Witter.

They continued their scoring in the fifth inning when freshman utility player Jaidyn Swanson and freshman infielder Summer DuBeau each scored. Teagan Carroll scored Marysville Getchell’s in the sixth inning on a double from Kranz.

He added that Kranz had a big night going 3-4 on hits, hitting two doubles with three RBIs.

Marysville Pilchuck had one hit for the game when senior McKenzie Becker singled in seventh inning, Zachry said. Senior Riley Perrine scored the Tomahawks’ only run.

The Berry Bash was organized by Marysville School District Athletic Director Rocky Verbeck.

“It was kind of a neat, festive game, well attended,” Verbeck said. “It is something to do to try and celebrate the kids.”

The Berry Bash took place at Cedar Field, which is a Little League field located near downtown Marysville. It is a turf field, with lights for evening competition and the same dimensions as a high school softball diamond.

Taking place on a cold evening during Spring Break, both coaches noted the number of people who watched the game. “It was still well-attended and a great event,” Moran said.

By winning the first Berry Bash, Marysville Getchell took home a traveling trophy, where it will remain until next spring.

“I hope it sticks around and we continue to do it yearly,” Zachry said.

The April 4 win in the Berry Bash brings Marysville Getchell’s record to 2-2 in Wesco and 3-5 overall.

Moran said the Chargers are a fairly young team and, after an abbreviated season in 2021 and no season in 2020 due to COVID-19, it’s hard to get a feel for the team currently. The roster shows four seniors and one junior for the 2002 season.

The game against Marysville Pilchuck was the only one scheduled during Spring Break. The time off provided some time for a couple players who are banged up to get some rest, Moran said.

The Tomahawks, which have a record of 4-3 overall and 4-1 in Wesco, have eight seniors on the 14-person roster.

“We’re just not deep,” Zachry said, adding Marysville Pilchuck didn’t have players to fill a junior varsity team for 2022.

Marysville Pilchuck hosts Lake Stevens April 14 and then travels to Everett April 18.

Marysville Getchell hosts Shorewood April 13 and hosts Jackson April 15.

Game time this week for softball games is 4 p.m.

For more information, go to www.wescoathletics.com or www.arbiterlive.com.

Eagles take third at State Tournament

Nathan Whalen
Mar 8, 2022 Updated Mar 8, 2022

After enduring a loss in the semi-finals, Arlington’s girls basketball team bounced back to capture third place in the state tournament.

The Eagles defeated Mead 61-44 during an afternoon game March 5 at the Tacoma Dome.

“I think we executed really well,” said junior Jenna Villa who is one of two team captains for the Eagles. She finished the game with 23 points. “We came out with a fight. We were mad about yesterday.”

She was referring to the semifinal game March 4 where Arlington came up short against Garfield losing 56-42.

Fellow captain, senior Keira Marsh, echoed Villa’s sentiments. “I think we’re just mad about yesterday.”

“We played three-and-a-half quarters of basketball,” Villa said of the semifinal game. “We just ran out of steam.”

Arlington started the game with a 9-0 and finished the first quarter leading 17-8.

“I’m really proud with the way they responded after a tough loss last night,” Arlington head coach Joe Marsh said. “Our defense was outstanding today.”

He said it’s tough for a team to respond after a loss in the semifinals during a long tournament. Marsh added everyone working together was key to the win against Mead.

Mead slightly narrowed Arlington’s lead in the second quarter, which ended with the Eagles on top 25-18.

Scoring in the third quarter was evenly matched with Arlington scoring 12 points of its 17 points in the period from the free throw line maintaining their seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Eagles started the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to lead 53-35. Near the end of the game, Arlington extended its lead to 19 points before the game ended at 61-44.

“It’s a good way to end the season,” Keira Marsh said. She finished the game with 15 points and senior Hannah Rork finished with 11 points.

Coach Marsh said the March 5 game marked the second time that Arlington faced Garfield in the semifinals and a number-one-seeded team in the third-place game. Mead, based in Spokane, was the District 8, 3A champion.

In 2020, Arlington defeated Eastside Catholic for third place. Rork, Marsh, Villa and Sophie Willis were members on the 2020 squad.

Post season play was canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic.

The 2022 girls basketball state tournament saw four teams from the Wesco Conference place. In addition to Arlington, Snohomish, which Arlington defeated 50-47 in the quarterfinals, placed fourth and Stanwood placed sixth in the 3A tournament at the Tacoma Dome. In the 2A tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome, Archbishop Murphy placed fourth.

“It’s a great league,” Marsh said of the Wesco Conference. “It helps us get better.”

Martin leads Eagles to victory over MPHS

Arlington senior guard Ethan Martin scored 42 points and notched his 1,000th career point during a game Jan. 25 against Marysville Pilchuck. The Eagles won 79-62 and sit at the top of the Wesco Conference with the regular season wrapping up Feb. 4.

“We went in knowing it was a tough game,” Martin said.

“They wanted us really bad, and we knew they would,” Arlington coach Nick Brown said.

The first quarter ended with Arlington leading 19- 8, but Marysville Pilchuck shaved four points off Arlington’s lead during the second quarter and the first half ended with the Eagles leading 33-26.

The second half saw Martin score Arlington’s first 11 points and stretching their lead back to 11 points with a 44-31 advantage.

“We came out at halftime and flipped on a switch,” Martin said. The third quarter finished with Arlington leading 51-40.

Martin scored an additional 17 points in the fourth quarter and the end of the game saw Arlington lead 79- 62.

“Ethan Martin obviously played phenomenal,” Brown said.

Marysville Pilchuck coach Luke Carpenter complimented Arlington.

“We knew we were going in as underdogs,” Carpenter said. “We’re trying to hang with these guys and slay some of these giants.”

He complimented the efforts of junior guard Tommy Nguyen, who scored 14 points for the Tomahawks. “He kind of had a breakout game.”

In addition, sophomore guard Anthony Najera scored 17 points, Jamaari Jefferson scored 11 points and junior Jackson Poe scored 13 points.

“We battled and learned a lot about ourselves tonight,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter also complimented Najera’s leadership and often showing up at 5 a.m. to shoot baskets. “He’s got the heart of a champion.”

For Arlington, junior David Zachman and senior Gage Price each scored nine points.

Arlington won against Cedarcrest Jan. 29, and the Eagles have a 10-1 record in Wesco and 12-4 overall.

Marysville Pilchuck defeated Monroe Jan. 29 and stands at 6-4 in Wesco and 6-6 overall. Both teams wrap up their season in early February and the District 1 championships take place Feb. 8 through Feb. 19.

“Our goal is to get in there and shake some things up,” Carpenter said.

Marysville Pilchuck’s final games of the regular sea- son are visiting Edmonds- Woodway Feb. 2 and hosting Stanwood Feb. 3 while Arlington hosts Archbishop Murphy Feb. 2 and hosts Marysville Getchell Feb. 4.

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