After 17 straight, fastpitch club loses two but clinches crown

It took over 110 season-long innings, but the Tommies from Marysville-Pilchuck finally became the first fastpitch team to defeat the Stanwood Lady Spartan softball club in 2009 by a score of 3-2 last Thursday afternoon.

Actually, it took 12 frames for the host Tomahawks to prevail in this one after losing to the Spartans in 11 innings in their first meeting, but prevail they did and the Sparts' hopes for an undefeated season went by the wayside.

The next day, Friday, the local contingent lost as well to the visiting Bearcats from Monroe by a 4-0 count. Stanwood finished the season with a very commendable 14-2 conference season record (17-2 overall), two games ahead of second-place Arlington.

District play begins today, Tues., May 19, in Monroe.

Earlier in the week, the Spartans beat Snohomish 4-0. Brittany Jeans pitched a complete game for the local lasses, allowing eight hits, walking four and striking out 13 enemy batters.

Senior shortstop Jordan Nemo paced Stanwood at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort, including a double.

The loss was Jeans' first of the year after 14 consecutive victories over the course of the season. She added a triple to the offensive effort. Shawna Hochstetler hit a pair of doubles and third baseman Carly Bosse' added another as the Sparts outhit M-P 7-3.

A half-dozen errors contributed mightily in the loss to the Bearcats of Monroe. Tori Kriegel was 2-for-3 at the plate, and Nemo slammed a double to the right field wall for Stanwood.

Information about starting times for the district tournament may be obtained from SHS athletic department by calling 629-1322.