ARLINGTON – Traditions have to start somewhere.

Arlington High School baseball Coach Scott Striegel says here and now is a good time.

“Arlington’s never been deep in baseball tradition,” Striegel said Wednesday, after the Eagles beat Ferndale 5-1 to qualify for state for the second-straight year.

Because of last year, he said the team set expectations for itself to return.

“And here we are,” Striegel said, smiling.

Arlington will play Saturday for either the third or fourth seeding from District 1. Striegel said they were a little disappointed not to be playing for the district title, but they bounced back against the Eagles. The coach said Arlington has the ability to do well at state because of its deep pitching staff.

“It’s the best part of the team,” he said. “We need to take advantage of that.”

Against Ferndale, senior Tristan Sheward pitched a complete game, striking out six and walking none.

“Tristan gave up one run again. You’re going to win a whole lot of games that way, and we have,” Striegel said. “He pounds the strike zone.”

Ferndale’s only run came on an error, but overall defensively, “The guys made plays. That’s what we are,” the coach added.

The Eagles only had six hits, but they “hit the ball on the line,” ran the bases aggressively and took advantage of five walks.

Arlington got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning when junior Gavin Rork singled up the middle, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Sheward knocked in the run with a line-drive double over the leftfielder’s head. Sophomore Jack Sheward followed with another double after the rightfielder lost the ball in the sun. But they were both left stranded.

Ferndale followed in the top of the fourth with its only run of the game. Matt James doubled over the centerfielder’s head then scored on an error.

The Eagles responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game.

Senior Jake Russell was safe on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved up on a single to centerfield by freshman Owen Bishop, then scored on a wild pitch.

Rork hit an RBI double in the gap, followed by another RBI double in the gap by Tristan Sheward.

The Eagles threatened in the fifth, but a popped up bunt on a suicide squeeze ended the inning with a double play.

Arlington added an insurance run in the sixth on two walks, a stolen base by Rork and an error on the catcher.

Ferndale 000 100 0 – 1 5 3

Arlington 001 301 x – 5 6 1

James Hinson, Orlando Alarcon (4), Geoream Hatchett (6) and Matt James. Tristan Sheward and Jack Sheward. WP – T. Sheward. LP – Hinson.

Ferndale: Max Jeffrey 2-3, Matt James 1-3, 2B; Arlington: Gavin Rork 2-3, 2B; Tristan Sheward 2-3, 2 2B; Jack Sheward 1-3, 2B.