MARYSVILLE — It was another frustratingly narrow loss for the Tomahawk softball team as they fell to Snohomish 7-6 in extra innings.
The team struggled through several one-run losses last year before tightening up their game at the end of the season and making a run for the district championship.
“Our margin is even closer this year,” said M-P coach K.T. Allyn after the April 24 game. “We’re leading, we’re often outhitting our opponents. But we’re not getting that clutch hit.”
The girls left 14 base runners on in the rematch of a 3-2 loss at Snohomish earlier this month.
Snohomish scored three runs in the top of the first inning, all off of a two-out double, but the outfield backed up Tomahawk pitcher Riley Fritz and closed out the inning with no further damage. They blasted back in the second inning, scoring three runs with RBIs by Fritz and third baseman Katie Buck. They took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Megan Rollings batted in Jessica Tanigawa, who had doubled. Fritz got on base again and a pair of walks gave M-P a bases-loaded situation but the Tommies flew out before they could capitalize on their base runners.
The teams exchanged jabs in the fifth inning, designated hitter Amanda Cordova hitting her third hit in three at bats for a run and retaking the lead after Snohomish tied it in the top of the inning. But Snohomish had two hits with one out in the sixth inning, scoring on a double and a pass ball at the plate to go up 6-5.
M-P would retie the game in the seventh inning on another Rollings RBI but once again the Tommies left three runners on and were only able to force extra innings. In the eighth, Snohomish scored a run that Marysville couldn’t answer.
Unlike last year, the M-P girls are struggling with a key injury — at pitcher, Fritz has struggled with an ankle injury, which has limited her innings. Junior Jen Rosie has been capable on the mound for the Tomahawks, but it’s a balancing act, said Allyn.
Three of their four league losses have been decided by one run.
“It’s so hard. But if anybody can pull through adversity like this, it’s this group,” Allyn said. “They have team unity that’s hard to come by.”