MARYSVILLE — Down four runs at one point, the Stilly Valley 9/10 all-stars came back to defeat North Everett through patience and good defense.

Thanks in part to five walks in the second inning, North Everett took a 3-0 lead in the June 28 first-round game for both teams, adding another run in the top of the third. But playing home at Marysville’s Cedar Field, Stilly Valley started to come back in the bottom of the inning, starting with a walk of Zane Blanken.

“We never gave up and kept plugging away,” said manager Wes Sheward. “Their starting pitcher was strong and we wore him out.”

Blanken was followed by teammate Avrey Earnheart, who doubled to center field. Both boys cut into the North Everett lead, stealing home. They still trailed 4-2 in the top of the fourth.

It was there the boys had a great defensive series that helped to turn the tide. Shortstop Jared Bailey and first baseman Skylar Klein turned a double play to cut off Everett’s runners. Klein bagged the next out with a well-placed glove, catching what could potentially have been a line drive to right field.

Tyson Human and Taylor Baker led off the bottom of the fourth with walks. Human stole third before Casey Turner hit a two-run single to tie the game up.

Tristan Sheward and Human got on base again in the fifth inning, but North Everett countered with an effective closer, who kept Stilly Valley from scoring in the fifth or sixth.

North Everett had opportunities in the extra seventh inning, at one point loading the bases. But with a pair of outs in the field and a strikeout by Earnheart, Stilly Valley closed out, giving themselves the chance to win with a run.

Earnheart led off with a double that just missed an outfielder’s glove. Tristan Sheward’s bunt moved Earnheart to third, setting up the walk-off single by Trevor Kazen.

“We just happened to be near the top (of our order) in that seventh inning,” Sheward said.

The boys played South Snohomish June 29 after The Times went to press.

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