MONROE — Jackson junior starting pitcher Sophie Frost was at her best on Tuesday — and because of it her team earned a berth in Thursday’s 4A District 1 Championship game where it will face Snohomish.
Frost started her day by pitching a one-hitter in a 2-0 first-round victory over Mount Vernon and finished it with a two-hitter in a 5-2 win over Lake Stevens.
The Vikings have a dangerous offensive lineup from top to bottom, but Frost was able to hold them at bay.
“Sophie was outstanding today,” Jackson head coach Kyle Peacocke said. “We didn’t have much offense in that first game and we needed everything from her. I thought she pitched her best game of the year against Lake Stevens in that second game just in terms of (the Vikings) being a good offense and being able to shut them down. She just really stepped up for us and did great.”
The Timberwolves scored a run in each of the first two innings to take a 2-1 lead over Lake Stevens, but they broke the game open with two runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth.
With two outs and a runner on first in the top of the fourth inning, freshman Sam Mutolo hit a ground-rule double to right center field to put runners on second and third for senior catcher Kayla Ellis. Ellis placed a double just inside the left-field line to score Mutolo and Alyssa Avalos.
“That was huge because it was 2-1,” Peacocke said. “Kayla, being a senior, just really stepped up and had a great at-bat. She had two strikes and was able to foul one off and then she hit a line drive into left field to score both runs. She’s a team leader and a great kid and she’s been clutch for us all year.”
Mutolo finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two doubles.
“For a freshman, the kid is just unbelievable,” Peacocke said of Mutolo. “The kid has ice water in her veins. She won’t shy away from any kind of pressure situation. She was really big for us today because she caught the first game which was able to keep Kayla’s legs fresh for the second game. … She’s been big time for us all year.”
Ellis’ double gave the Timberwolves a 4-1 lead. They added to it in the fifth with a solo home run by sophomore Taylor Adams. Adams hit a long drive down the left-field line that cleared the fence easily, the only question was whether or not it was a fair ball. Adams herself clearly couldn’t tell as she rounded first base, but the home plate umpire signaled home run and Adams completed her jog around the bases.
“Taylor is a kid that had a really big freshman year for us last year,” Peacocke said. “She hit a bunch of home runs. She’s been really putting a lot of pressure on herself this year. She’s a great hitter. Right now, she’s batting down in the lineup and I’m just trying to relax her. I trust her and I know that she’s a clutch hitter. We’re hoping that she keeps doing that in the postseason for us.”
Both of the games Lake Stevens and Jackson played in the regular season were decided by one run with each team winning one game. The combination of Frost’s pitching and just enough offense gave the Timberwolves a somewhat more comfortable win on Tuesday, but more importantly a spot in the district championship game.
“It’s a big, big step for us,” Peacocke said. “It’s something that was one of our goals this year. We’re excited about the opportunity.”
The Timberwolves will meet the Panthers for a third time this season in the championship game. Each of the first two games were decided by one run with Snohomish winning both games.
At Sky River Park
Jackson 110 210 0 — 5 11 3
Lake Stevens 100 000 1 — 2 2 0
Sophie Frost and Kayla Ellis. Megan Berry, Sara Johnson (2) and Tehya Harney. WP—Frost. LP—Berry. 2B—Sam Mutolo (J) 2, Kayla Ellis (J), Amie Browder (LS). HR—Taylor Adams (J), Makala Akers (LS). Records—Jackson 18-5. Lake Stevens 16-6.
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