MARYSVILLE — In back-to-back games, the M-P fastpitch team enjoyed victories over likely playoff teams and boosted the case for a postseason berth of its own.

After defeating Monroe on its home field May 1, the girls followed up with a 5-1 victory at home over Cascade to move up to a 7-7 record, tying with the Bruins for third place among the league’s 4A schools.

“Beating Monroe, we felt we could beat anybody,” said M-P first baseman Skyler Peterson, who had a triple and three runs for the Tomahawks in their May 2 win. The 1-0 defeat of Monroe was only the Bearcats’ second loss of the season, a record attributable to their state-caliber pitcher Jordan Birch. However, freshman Tomahawk pitcher Riley Fritz outmatched her counterpart in one critical category, throwing just a one-hitter at Monroe. Birch’s team allowed three, including a double by freshman Megan Rollings proved the decisive RBI.

M-P made Cascade’s errors cost them. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, the Bruins gave up three consecutive errors at first base, allowing seniors Chrissy Atterson, Skyler Peterson and Anna West into scoring position and giving up runs by Atterson and Peterson.

The scores proved to be all the Tomahawks needed, but the girls didn’t stop there. Senior shortstop Kristina Sherriff batted in a single by DH Marissa Lewis and nearly had a home run on the same play, but was called out at home.

Peterson’s second run was batted in during the third inning off a double by West. Her third at-bat, a triple, gave the Tommies their fifth run when senior Courtney Perrine hit the RBI in the sixth inning.

Fritz credited her teammates on defense for her success, including the four-hitter she pitched Cascade.

“It felt really good,” she said of the wins to open the month of May. “I felt good pitching, and I had a good defense behind me.”

M-P coach KT Allyn credited Fritz’s accuracy for her success as a pitcher.

“A pitcher that misses her spots, our defense doesn’t know where to stand,” Allyn said, explaining Fritz’s strength. “But she’s been great in locating her pitches, and we hope she’ll only get better.”

M-P is scheduled to host Oak Harbor in the close of its regular season May 7.