Coastal slugs it out for a win

MARYSVILLE After a sluggish start to the young summer softball season, Coastal Community Bank added a win to their tally by defeating the Brew Crew 11-4 in game one of a week three doubleheader.

Coastal wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard early Aug. 6 as leadoff batter Eric Sprink hit an in-park home run to deep right field, rounding third base by the time the Crew outfielder reached the ball. Shortstop Leon St. Onge followed Sprink up with the first of five consecutive hits that gave Coastal a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.

The Brew Crew's Kenny Wielgus answered in kind to Sprink's home run with one of his own this one over the fence and into the parking lot by the Marysville-Pilchuck High pool. The Crew cut into the Coastal lead by two more runs, including another homer, but would get no closer this game than their one-run deficit by the end of the first inning.

Solid defense characterized the meeting as each team held the other scoreless for at least two innings. But a little at a time, and despite the vocal optimism of the Brew Crew dugout, Coastal would eke out a run here and there, including two off an error by Shanynn Schmidt in the fifth inning, that would help them pull away.

In the sixth inning, Coastal effectively sealed the deal, getting their eighth, ninth and 10th runs off of five hits. Gregg Monten and Eric Wilson, who batted effectively all game for Coastal, combined for the three RBIs. The Brew Crew was able to muster only one run in response, batted in by Wielgus. Coastal's final run came in the top of seven as Jared Neyens hit a double and took advantage of every chance to move around the base, running home on a sac fly by Jeff Stanley. None of Neyens' teammates got one base that inning.

Both teams came into the doubleheader looking for a win in the coed league as Coastal entered with a record of 1-3 and the Brew Crew 0-4.

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