5/17/18: The Mt. Baker Mountaineers & Lynden Christian Lyncs celebrate district semifinal victories at Janicki Fields. PHOTO: Doug Lange
1A Softball: Mountaineers and Lyncs Statebound
May 17, 2018
The Mount Baker and Lynden Christian softball teams are heading to 1A state. The Mountaineers and Lyncs clinched state berths with district semifinal victories Thursday at Janicki Fields in Sedro-Woolley.
Mt. Baker 5 South Whidbey 4
Mount Baker scored two runs in the top of the 10th and held on for a 5-4 victory over South Whidbey. Sophomore pitcher Kennedy West picked up the victory after replacing starter Tyler Miles for the extra innings.
Mountaineers head coach Ron Lepper says his young pitchers have put a lot of work in during the season. "They competed for us really hard, they've done that all year long. They're the ones that give us a chance."
MORE: Full interview with Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper
The Mountaineers, who won their first game on Thursday 16-to-1 over Sultan, will play Lynden Christian on Saturday, May 19th for the district championship.
Lynden Christian 9 Nooksack Valley 5
Lynden Christian used a 6-run 4th inning to beat the Nooksack Valley Pioneers 9-4 Thursday. Senior pitcher Sam VanLoo got a complete game victory for the Lyncs.
LC put the game in motion, pressuring the Pioneers with base runners and it paid dividends.
"We took advantage of our strength which is our team speed," said Lynden Christian head coach Mitch Moorlag. "Avery Dykstra had 4 stolen bases herself. We had eight as a team today and nobody got caught stealing more importantly"
MORE: Full interview with Lynden Christian coach Mitch Moorlag
Saturday's district championship game between Lynden Christian (18-3) and Mt. Baker will be the second meeting of the year between the two squads. The Lyncs beat the Mountaineers 8-to-4 in the regular season finale on May 10th.
Nooksack Valley is still alive for a state berth. The Pioneers, who beat Cedar Park Christian 14-3 in a loser out contest earlier in the day, will play Sultan on Saturday The winner moves on to the 3rd place game, where a victory seals a spot at state, the loser in both games is done for the year.
5/17/18 SCOREBOARD
Mount Baker 16 Sultan 1(loser-out)
Nooksack Valley 14 Cedar Park Christian 3 (loser-out)
Semifinals: Mount Baker 5 South Whidbey 4
Semifinals: Lynden Christian 9 Nooksack Valley 5
5/19/18 SCHEDULE
Nooksack Valley vs. Sultan 12:00pm (loser out)
South Whidbey vs. Cedar Park Christian 12:00pm (loser out)
Nooksack Valley/Sultan winner vs. South Whidbey/Cedar Park Christian winner 2:00pm (winner 3 place & stay berth, loser-out)
District Championship: Lynden Christian vs. Mount Baker 2:00pm
- Doug Lange
Mount Baker Pitcher Kennedy West. PHOTO: Doug Lange
Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper. PHOTO: Doug Lange
Lynden Christian Pitcher Sam VanLoo. PHOTO: Doug Lange
Lynden Christian coach Mitch Moorlag. PHOTO: Doug Lange
Nooksack Valley Pitcher Destiny Dunlap. PHOTO: Doug Lange
Nooksack Valley coach Tom Harmon. PHOTO: Doug Lange
