EVERETT — The Marysville-Pilchuck softball team lost its winner-to-state game 6-2 to Edmonds-Woodway in the 3A district tournament.

The Tommies defeated Lynnwood 9-3 in game one, but lost the second round to Meadowdale 13-3 May 19. M-P had one more chance to qualify for state, but were eliminated by Edmonds May 21.

Edmonds scored two runs in the first inning, but M-P answered right away with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first, but Edmonds broke away with four more runs in the later innings.

M-P’s McKenzie Justice pitched all seven innings and the Tomahawks played good defense behind her, but Edmonds’ pitcher kept their bats off balance, coach Aaron Zachry said.

M-P had a chance to rally in the seventh inning when they were able to hit the ball and load the bases.

“We got our bases loaded. We were at the top of our order. We were just a couple of hits away from doing it,” Zachry said. “But we just couldn’t put it together.

“It’s been a long season. We had some ups and downs,” he added. “Our expectations in January were a lot higher, I think.”

One of the setbacks that lowered those expectations was senior first baseman Abi Otto’s injury causing her to miss all her games before districts.

“It mentally took a toll on the girls. It was hard to get through that,” Zachry said. “But it gave other girls a chance to step up and show what they could do.”

M-P finished 10-7 in conference and 12-10 overall.