EVERSON — Mount Baker fastpitch posted a new season-high scoring effort in a four-inning 31-8 dismantling of Nooksack Valley on the road Friday evening, notching 22 runs across the third and fourth innings.
The Mountaineers piled up 22 hits, homered three times, had four players score five or more runs and picked up 15 bases on balls in an overwhelming Northwest Conference win against the defending 1A state champions.
“The ball was carrying today,” Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper said. “I have a lot of respect for [NV coach Tom Harmon] and what he does there.”
It was a close game through two innings before the Mountaineers began to run away with it. Mount Baker senior outfielder Madison Barter and NV senior infielder Ella Perry each homered in the first inning, resulting in a 4-4 tie heading into the second.
Junior Ava Jeretsky, Mount Baker’s pitcher, belted a three-run home run in the top of the second, and the Mountaineers held a 9-6 lead at the end of two frames.
Mount Baker’s Ava Jeretsky watches the ball sail over the outfield wall for a three-run homer. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Then came the avalanche.
Rattling off 12 runs in the top of the third, Mount Baker found the barrel and connected on hit after hit. Sophomore catcher Gracie Zender added the third homer, a two-run bomb that gave the Mountaineers an 11-6 advantage.
After 10 hits and three walks in the third, the Mountaineers held a 21-6 lead. They added 10 more in the fourth, closing out an impressive offensive performance.
“We had a couple of mistakes — both teams did,” Lepper said. “Those are things we’ve got to clean up getting ready for postseason.”
Jeretsky pitched all four innings for Mount Baker, allowing eight hits, seven earned runs and three walks while striking out five batters. She also went 5-for-5 at the plate, adding five runs scored, seven RBIs, two doubles and a home run.
Barter finished 4-for-5 with five runs scored, five RBIs and a home run. Zender went 3-for-4 at the plate and also had five runs scored, five RBIs, a double and a home run.
Nooksack Valley’s Ella Perry gets a high-five from coach Tom Harmon after hitting a three-run home in the first inning. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
NV senior infielder Sierra Anderson turned in a nice game, finishing 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, an RBI and two doubles.
The Pioneers cycled through three pitchers in the game, and the trio collectively allowed 22 hits, 30 earned runs and 15 bases on balls.
“We did some stuff defensively that we haven’t been able to do, and we did a pretty good job with that,” Harmon said. “Offensively, I’m fine with it. We put up eight runs.”
Mount Baker advanced to 11-4 overall (8-2 NWC) and the Mountaineers have now outscored their opponents 55-10 over their last two games.
The Mountaineers will host Blaine (11-1, 10-1 NWC) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, in a game that will have major postseason implications.
NV fell to 6-10 overall (3-8 NWC) as the Pioneers continue to struggle after winning the program’s first-ever state title last season. They will travel to Meridian (9-4, 5-4 NWC) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, for their next game.
“It’s not for lack of effort, it’s not for kids having poor mental attitudes,” Harmon said. “They have growth mindsets but, for some of them, I’m asking them to do some really tough stuff.”
Mount Baker’s Cadence Cloninger tries unsuccessfully to avoid a tag by Nooksack Valley catcher Alayna Dykstra. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
