By Jeff Smarr

The Edmonds-Woodway High School baseball team used two big innings to overcome an early deficit and beat the Arlington Eagles 11-3 in a first round Divisional playoff game. Jorgen Arnesen pitched six solid innings for the Warriors and also added a walk, a single, a double and 3 RBI on offense.

Arlington’s first two hitters, Peter Chung and Alex Schempp,  each walked to the plate with different types of regulation bats and walked to start the game with Chung taking third on an overthrow to the pitcher. Ryan Walker singled to left to plate the first run for the Eagles. Tristan Jager sacrificed both runners along, setting up a second and third situation. Arnesen then got the next two batters out on a strikeout and a fly ball to center to end the threat.

In Arlington’s second,  Bryce Human led off the inning with a single to right and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Bradley Mosalsky. Tyler Bradford then singled to left to score Human with the second Eagle run with Bradford advancing to second on the play.  Once again, Jorgensen was able to settle down, getting the final two outs on a strikeout of Chung and a grounder to shortstop Alex Hull.

The Warriors’ first big rally came in the bottom of the third. The first two batters, Austin Holmes and Joey Rees, both singled then each advanced a base on a balk. Hull made an out on an RBI grounder to the third baseman, with Holmes scoring and Rees advancing to third.  Arnesen then scored Rees on a sharp RBI single to right field. “It was kind of a bad swing” said Arnesen, “ but it got through and we tied the game.”

Tristan Jager came in to relieve  Arlington’s starter. Jason Smarr, who was  running for Arnesen, broke for second and Mac Mclachlan greeted Jager with a double off the left field wall, scoring Smarr from first. Tate Budnick then singled to left, driving in McLachlan with the fourth and final run of the inning.

The Eagles came back in the top of the fourth with Jager  hitting a leadoff double off the wall. Isaiah Vaughan then hit a single into the right center gap. With Jager racing home from second, Right fielder Dominic Marinez hit cut-off man, Bryce Mezich who threw out Jager at the plate to deny the  Eagles a run.  “ We practice those things all the time and it was great to see it executed,” said Warrior coach Dan Somoza. Hull then snared a grounder up the middle to get Human at first and end the Eagle threat.

In the fifth, Walker doubled off the center field net to start the Arlington inning. He then advanced to third on a passed ball. Then with one out, Vaughan grounded into a fielders choice to Hull, with Walker scoring the third run of the game for the Eagles. Arnesen  struck out the final batter to end the threat. “He (Arnesen) didn’t have his best stuff today, but he had lots of guts,” said Somoza. “He made an adjustment and kept us in the ball game.”

In the bottom of the sixth, with the Warriors leading by one,  Chantz Justice reached first on a one-out walk. Holmes was then hit by a pitch. After both runners advanced on a balk, Rees took advantage of the infield playing in, scoring Justice from third base with his third single of the game. Rees attributed his recent success to a more patient approach at the plate. “I’m not as aggressive and I’m getting my tempo back,” he said.

Hull then reached on a fielder’s choice to set the stage for Arnesen, whohit a two-RBI double to right, scoring Rees and Hull.  McLachlan followed with an RBI single, stole second, then scored on a double by Budnick. Troy Rheinford then traded places on second with Budnick, as he too, hit a double to score Budnick. Bryce Mezich reached on an errant throw by the third baseman, with Rheinford scoring the seventh and final run of the inning.

With the Warriors leading by eight, Arnesen’s day on the mound was done. Mezich came in to pitch the top of the seventh and  retired all three Eagles, striking out two.

The game was played in near perfect conditions before an overflow crowd, estimated at around 300. “There were tons of people, it was great to see,” Somoza said.  “It’s playoff baseball, and we are a fun team to watch.”

With the win, the Warriors advance to Monday night’s semi-final game against Lake Stevens. “We played them earlier in the season, they are the defending champion and are always tough,” Somoza said.The Warriors plan on starting Tate Budnick on the mound against the Vikings. Game time is 7 p.m. and will be played at the home of the Aquasox, Everett Memorial Stadium. Warrior Radio will also be on hand to broadcast the game.

Arlington         1 1 0 0 4 0 0 –3 5 2
Edmonds-Woodway:    0 0 4 0 0 7 x –11 11 2

WP Arnesen  (1-0 postseason)
LP  Jager (0-1)
2b) Jager, Walker (Cascade);  Arnesen, Mclachlan, Budnick, Rheinford (E-W)