BOTHELL — A two-out, three-run home run made the final inning a bit more exciting than the Jackson softball team might have preferred.
But in the end, star pitcher Sophie Frost got the Timberwolves out of their game Monday with a win, as Jackson held on to defeat Lynnwood 7-5 in non-conference action at Lynnwood High School.
Trailing 7-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lynnwood’s first three runners hit singles, the last of the three driving in a run. After a flyout got Jackson one out away from a win, Lynnwood’s Dasia Lester — the Royals’ pitcher — belted a three-run home run to get Lynnwood to within two.
Frost shook off the homer and struck out the last batter of the game to clinch the win.
“It was weird. Sophie had 14 strikeouts and had them shut out through five innings and through the fifth inning they only had one hit,” Jackson head coach Kyle Peacocke said. “The last two innings (Lynnwood’s bats) kind of woke up. When Dasia hit the home run, it got a little interesting. But Sophie was able to bear down and strike out the last battter to end the game.”
Kayla Ellis, one of two Jackson seniors, led the Timberwolves’ offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Taylor Adams (2-for-3) added a triple for Jackson (2-1).
“(Ellis) was huge,” Peacocke said. “Her first double put us on the board and she hit a two-run home run to give us a 6-0 lead and at that point in time she was our big offensive hero. She had a great day at the plate. I expect her to have a great year. She’s a real leader.”
The game pitted two former league rivals against each other. Lynnwood (0-1), which moved to the 3A classification after the 2013-14 school year, and Jackson played two close battles last season as Wesco 4A South rivals.
Peacocke wanted to keep the rivalry going and also schedule strong competition for the non-conference portion of the Timberwolves’ schedule.
“We tried to put together a good non-league schedule for ourselves,” Peacocke said. “We just played Inglemoor and Woodinville. Lynnwood — we had some battles with last year and we still wanted to play them. They did lose some weapons, but their pitcher is a sophomore and she’s going to have a good season for them. We wanted to play competitive games and tough teams and get ready for when the league starts.”
The Jackson coach said his team still has things to work on before it begins Wesco 4A play against Cascade on March 30. Peacocke said he’s still moving players around and trying to get kids playing time in the week leading up to the league opener.
“It’s weird the way the 4A is set up this year,” Peacocke said. “We have six non-league games and we’re really trying to play a lot of kids and we’re moving kids around defensively and just trying to play them and give them at-bats. We’re playing well, but I expect us to continue to get better throughout the season.”
At Lynnwood H.S.
Jackson 031 020 1 — 7 11 1
Lynnwood 000 001 4 — 5 7 1
Sophie Frost and Sam Mutolo, Kayla Ellis (4). Dasia Lester and K. Harthan. WP—Frost. LP—Lester. 2B—Kayla Ellis (J) 2, Courtney Karmil (J). 3B—Taylor Adams (J). HR—Lester (L), Ellis (J). Records—Jackson 2-1 overall. Lynnwood 0-1.
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