VanDalen leads M-P baseball past Cascade

EVERETT — It’s easy to see why the Tommies are undefeated.

M-P showed off it’s pitching prowess April 14 in an 8-3 Wesco North win over Cascade.

“It was a good win, but we lacked that killer instinct,” said Marysville-Pilchuck coach Kurt Koshelnik. “That is something we’ve really been trying to drive home this year.”

The Tomahawks left 10 runners on base and led 8-0 going into the seventh inning. Just one extra hit in four different innings would have enforced the mercy rule.

Instead, the Tommies played all seven, which didn’t seem to be a problem for starter Kyle VanDalen, who pitched a complete game.

“Kyle was around the plate all day,” said Koshelnik. “He did a good job hitting his spots and letting his defense work for him.’

VanDalen was also the model of efficiency during his first six innings, throwing just 68 pitches while allowing just one hit.

“It was nice to get runs early,” said VanDalen. “It kind of relaxes you and you know you can make a mistake and it won’t really hurt you.”

The Tommies scored a pair of runs in four separate innings, starting with the second. Catcher Kyle Flanders notched the first of three singles in the inning and also scored a run. Flanders then provided the big hit in the third, blasting a two-run triple to center field. The junior catcher finished the day going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base.

“Flanders has done a good job hitting through the last few games for us,” Koshelnik said.

Meanwhile, VanDalen kept Bruins runners off the bases striking out five and walking just one. Cascade mounted a small rally in the seventh, connecting on five straight singles for three runs — although more than half of them were Texas leaguers.

The win completes the season sweep of Cascade for Marysville (12-0 overall, 10-0 Wesco North).

Koshelnik also praised Tyler Kep who went 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored and Dane Widness who had two hits, a walk, was hit by a pitch and stole two bases. Widness also flashed the leather in left field, colliding with the wall for a catch that saved two runs in the second inning and ended up being a double play due to an overzealous Cascade baserunner.