LYNNWOOD — The Marysville American All-Stars got their first win as a team in the opening round of the 2008 tournament, stomping their counterparts from Stanwood-Camano 18-0.
After years of playing together on the 9/10 all-stars and 11-year-old all-stars in past seasons where they went 0-2 in tournament play, this American squad came out guns blazing, running up a 9-0 lead in the first inning of the June 28 opener at Lynndale Park and never looked back.
Starting pitcher Chad Mullins and shortstop Jake Lund batted 4-for-4 against Stanwood. Mullins was relieved on the mound in the second inning by Cody Anderson to remain eligible under tournament rules to pitch against second-round foe South Everett.
“This win was hard earned,” said team American manager Josh Gepner. “I think we put a little more practice in, more enthusiasm. We play well as a team, too.”
While Marysville had most of its runs in the first inning, some of the most spectacular hits came in the second half of the game. In the third inning, Lund hit a three-run homer just past the center field scoreboard to bring in teammates Garrett Walters and Tristan Greeno. Not long after, Mullins knocked a triple between the center and right fielders, a hit that was batted in on a sacrifice play by Anderson. In the top of the fourth, Anderson finally got his own big hit with a double right down the middle of the field.
Second baseman Nick Vennetti, who turned a 4-6-3 double play in the bottom of the second, capped a 3-for-4 performance with a third-inning double. With his fourth at-bat, Marysville led by 18, a game-ending lead if the defense held through the bottom of the fourth.
The Stanwood leadoff batter slugged one past first base for a hit, but the runner got no further. Anderson shut down Stanwood on base, striking out the next three.
Gepner credited the team’s blowout win to their camaraderie.
“These guys have been playing together for three years,” said Gepner, who coached Bruce and Becky’s Interiors in the regular season. “Even during the regular season, playing against each other, they cheer each other on.”
