Crest Division
- Newport 8, Skyline 1 - Senior Colin Hering shined both on the mound and at the plate for the Knights as they completed a season sweep over Skyline with an 8-1 win. Hering scattered 5 hits and an earned run over 6 2/3 innings of work and also went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI, helping Newport inch closer to the Crest Division's final playoff berth. For the Spartans, Adrian Sampson suffered his first loss of the 2009 campaign as he was touched for 8 runs (5 earned) in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
- Redmond 6, Garfield 1 - Junior Ryan Beliel went the distance, allowing just 4 hits and an earned run, helping the Mustangs win their seventh straight, 6-1 over Garfield. Beliel didn't walk a single batter, while striking out 3 Bulldogs on the night. Sophomore third baseman Michael Conforto keyed a 5-run third inning with a bases loaded triple and fellow sophomore Zach Abbruzza was 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI for Redmond, who took advantage of Skyline's loss to move into sole possession of first place in the Crest Division. Peter Summerville was 1-for-2 with an RBI for Garfield, who must win out and get help to have a shot at the playoffs.
- Issaquah 4, Eastlake 3 - In an important game to help determine the Crest Division's final two playoff teams, the Eagles pushed across a run in the top of the seventh to top Eastlake, 4-3. Junior Spencer Rogers carried a no-hitter into the sixth before the Wolves tied the game with three runs, two coming off the bat of senior catcher Nick Andrews. Rogers, who allowed just 2 hits and struck out 6 in a complete game victory, was the hero with the bat for Issaquah as well, driving in the go ahead run in the final frame. Marcus Gaan was 3-for-3 with a run scored for Issaquah, whose magic number is now 1 to clinch a playoff berth.
Crown Division
- Woodinville 10, Bothell 4 - Junior Dan McMillan's grand slam was the big hit in a 6-run third as the Falcons moved into a tie for second place in the Crown Division with a 10-4 win over Bothell. Both teams now sit at 8-5, with Woodinville owning the tiebreaker over Bothell thanks to a season sweep. Junior catcher Matt Stefansson also homered to help Woodinville's cause. For the Cougars, Tyler Atkinson, Brian McAfee and Alex Reynolds each had two hits in a losing effort.
- Inglemoor 2, Ballard 1 - Erick Raynes' two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning turned out to be the deciding blow in the Vikings' playoff clinching 2-1 win over Ballard. Pitchers Spencer Trautman (Inglemoor) and Jimmy Pugel (Ballard) traded zeroes for the first five innings before the Beavers broke through with a single run in the bottom of the sixth. That set the stage for Raynes's heroics, with the senior coming through with two strikes and two outs in the Inglemoor seventh. Inglemoor clinches a playoff berth with the win and trails Bothell and Woodinville by just one game at 7-6.
- LW 9, Roosevelt 3 - Sophomore Alex Donnelly had two hits and 2 RBI in Lake Washington's 7-run fifth inning as the Kangs took a two-game lead in the Crown Division with a 9-3 win over the Roughriders. As he had done in their first meeting, Roosevelt senior pitcher Steven Holt kept LW's bats in check, taking a 3-2 lead into the fifth. However, a combination of walks, hit batsmen and key hits sparked the Kangs' big inning. Senior right hander Karl Myers struck out 9 over 6 innings to improve to 3-1 in KingCo play this season. Blake Lively was 1-for-1 with 3 walks, 2 runs, 2 RBI and 2 of Lake Washington's 7 stolen bases on the night. For Roosevelt, Tom Nielsen was 3-for-4 in a losing cause.
Six of the eight playoff teams are now decided including all four of the Crown Division tournament participants. In the Crest Division, Issaquah and Newport have the upper hand, with Eastlake and Garfield currently on the outside looking in. Look for a post on the blog later today with information on the 2009 KingCo tournament.
