Cascade outlasts Everett in slugfest, secures state berth

EVERETT — Over the past two seasons, the Cascade High School softball team has proven no lead is safe when the Bruins step to the plate.

Last spring Cascade delivered an epic comeback from down 10 runs in the district semifinals. With their backs against the wall and a state tournament berth on the line Thursday, the Bruins produced another improbable rally that’ll forever be apart of program lore.

Second-seeded Cascade recovered from a deflating collapse, rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings and outlasted ninth-seeded Everett 16-15 in a wild winner-to-state, loser-out Class 3A District 1 tournament consolation bracket battle at Phil Johnson Ballfields.

“I’m not even surprised,” Cascade coach Mike Perrine said of the comeback. “… This is the way that this team plays. These girls never give up.”

The victory clinched the Bruins (17-6) their second consecutive state berth and third in program history.

Cascade appeared to be well on its way to comfortable victory against its Everett School District rival with a barrage of home runs over the first two innings.

Jaidyn Wilson and Abby Surowiec swatted back-to-back solo shots in the first. Wilson added an RBI single in the second and Surowiec started another string back-to-back blasts with a three-run shot followed by Alexa Hamshaw’s solo home run for a 7-0 lead.

But the game took a serious turn in the fourth.

Everett’s bats came alive and it took advantage of back-to-back walks to leadoff the inning and a number of mistakes in the field to rally for eight runs. Samantha Stine and Ruby Wacker hit RBI singles, Braylon Yarwood hit a two-run double and Madeline Pewitt put the Seagulls (12-12) on top 8-7 with a three-run home run just inside the foul pole in left field.

Surowiec answered back in the bottom half with an RBI double and scored the go-ahead run on a double steal to go up 9-8.

Pewitt’s RBI single in the sixth tied the game at 9-9.

Everett’s Isa Davis (28) throws the ball during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

The Seagulls loaded the bases with three singles in the seventh and Isa Davis crushed a grand slam to right-center. Pewitt singled home another run and came around to score on an error as Everett gained a 15-9 advantage with just three outs to go.

Cascade scored a pair of runs on RBI groundouts but still found itself down four runs down with nobody on base and down to its final out. Tessa Hahn and Wilson hit back-to-back doubles, Surowiec followed with an RBI single and Taylor Browne tied things up with a two-run double into the gap in right-center.

“We rally as a team,” Surowiec said. “We make sure that no matter how down we get we’re always having fun.”

After getting chased from the circle midway through the disastrous fourth, Surowiec came back in to pitch in extra frames and delivered two scoreless innings to set up the walk-off win in the ninth.

Hamshaw hit a grounder to second and Everett’s throw to first to try for an inning ending double play sailed high and allowed Hahn, who started the inning on second due to the international tiebreaker rule, to come around to score the winning run.

Pewitt had four hits and Davis and Stine each had three for the Seagulls.

The Bruins rode a strong performance from the top and middle of their lineup. Two through five hitters Wilson, Surowiec, Hamshaw and Browne went a combined 13 for 19 with seven extra-base hits and three walks.

“They just don’t overthink it when they’re finding success,” Perrine said. “Those girls just go up there trying to drive the ball hard.”

Everett players watch nervously during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Cascade’s Allison Gehrig (40) tags out a runner on first during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Everett’s Taylor Millar (5) moves to catch on second during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Everett’s Isa Davis (28) throws the ball during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Everett players watch nervously during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Everett’s Riannon Botz (8) catches on first during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

Everett players hug during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo

An Everett player reacts during a game between Everett and Cascade at Phil Johnson Ballfields in Everett, Washington on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Cascade won in the ninth inning, 16-15. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Purchase Photo