Story and photos by Doug Petrowski

In a slugfest, the Mountlake Terrace softball team outlasted Shorecrest Thursday evening, 10-7, to keep their hopes alive of returning to the 3A state tournament.

The Hawks fell behind in the fifth inning when Shorecrest scored five runs, all with two outs. Scots freshman Jeralyn Pasoquen smacked an RBI triple, followed by freshman Olivia Nolan’a RBI double, and sophomore Anisa Gomez’s three-run homer. Mountlake Terrace came back with three runs in their half of the inning, taking the lead for good off of senior Amanda Shartner’s hard hit two-run single off the pitcher’s glove.

Coach Kim Stewart admitted being a little nervous after the Scots took the lead. “Yeah, that was a little nerve-racking,” Stewart said. “They hit the ball really well.”

Stewart put sophomore pitcher Maddy Kristjanson back on the mound after Shorecrest took the lead, and the move paid off. Kristjanson held the Scots scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Kristjanson had started the game, but was pulled in the fourth inning after giving up a two-run homer to Shorecrest junior Jeanna Berg. Junior Rene Bos relieved Kristjanson in the fourth and pitched in the fifth when the Scots pulled ahead.

Mountlake Terrace got strong hitting from throughout the lineup. Kristjanson set the table for the Hawks’ comeback in the fifth with a double. In the sixth, freshman Hannah Wilcox and sophomore Hannah Baisch each had RBI doubles.

The Hawks’ defense came up with some key plays, including junior Hannan Fickle tagging out Shorecrest sophomore Alissa Kaufhold at the plate in the third inning.

Coach Stewart was impressed with the Scots “That was not the same Shorecrest team we played earlier in the year,” Stewart said after the game. “Their coach (Jackie Berg) has them playing really well right now.” The Hawks had beaten Shorecrest in both their meetings in the regular season, 5-2 and 11-1.

Mountlake Terrace next takes on rival Meadowdale Saturday at 11 a.m. at Janicki Fields in Sedro-Woolley. Meadowdale beat Glacier Peak 7-1 on Thursday in the other loser-out game.