ARLINGTON — Although Arlington softball coach Dan Eng seemed to have resisted the chill that had set in after three hours of competition, a shiver fell upon the spectators of the Eagles’ March 17 season opener.

“Sedro-Woolley is a great competitor,” Eng said, after his team finally shook off the Cubs to win 1-0 after a stalemate that had stretched into 10 innings.

The teams had met twice in last spring’s 3A district tournament. Arlington won the first meeting between the two teams but Sedro-Woolley won the second, eliminating the Eagles and going on to a winner-to-state game. Both games had been decided by one run.

The preseason clash proved worthy of the series developing between the two schools.

Both teams proved scrappy throughout the encounter, with both Arlington pitcher Christina Rayner and Sedro-Woolley pitcher Maddie Lynch-Crumrine going all 10 innings. Without catcher Lisa Allen and shortstop Kristen Allen playing for Arlington, the Eagles had only one substitute on their roster.

Arlington had batters on base in the first four innings, picking up four walks from Lynch-Crumrine before center fielder Kirsten Wright knocked a ball into left field in the fourth inning, gaining second base. Likewise, the Cubs had a pair of hits in the fourth inning, but both defenses held batters scoreless. Rayner struck out two to close out the inning — part of the 17 stirkeouts she earned against Sedro-Woolley — leaving both batters on base.

Finally, in the 10th inning, the teams started with a runner at second base. Her team the first to bat, the Sedro-Woolley runner advanced to third on a sacrifice play at first base. But that put the Cubs down two outs and Eagle shortstop Lyndsay Turner got the third on a ball that appeared headed toward left field.

As the sun began to dip behind the clouds, catcher Torrey Herrington started on second base for Arlington. Allie Milless, who had a hit in the fifth inning, got down in the count early and struck out. But she was followed by left fielder Kalie Basher, whose luck against Lynch-Crumrine had improved all game. After starting with two walks and a K, Basher got a hit in the eighth inning.

The sophomore connected with a pitch that went to left field, sending Herrington home and ending the game.

As a freshman, Basher had struggled with injury and might still be shaking off a little rust.

“We couldn’t ask for a better preseason tune-up,” Eng said.