First Round Recaps
- Newport 13, Kentwood 7 - The Knights scored 4 runs in the second, third and fourth innings en route to a 13-7 win over Kentwood in the round of 16 on Saturday morning. Trace Tam Sing, a second-team All-KingCo shortstop, led the way with 4 hits, including a double and a home run. The junior scored three runs and drove in 5 on the day. Victor King also doubled and homered, while Zach Nasu drove in two. Senior right-hander Brandon Andreini went the distance for Newport, allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 8.
- Issaquah 7, South Kitsap 1 - Junior right-hander Shane Yarnell allowed just 5 hits and struck out 11 in a complete game victory, as the Eagles took advantage of 8 South Kitsap errors in a 7-1 opening round win. Miles Perkins continued his remarkable postseason, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while fellow outfielder Spencer Rogers singled and drove in 2.
- Puyallup 12, Inglemoor 3 - The young Vikings saw their valiant run end at Kent Memorial Park, losing 12-3 to a more experienced Puyallup club. Puyallup (also the Vikings) jumped out early with 2 runs in the first and tacked on 6 more in the second to put Inglemoor away early. Senior first baseman Erick Raynes doubled and drove in a run, while sophomore Mitchell Gunsolus was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Vikings from the North, whose season ended with a record of 15-11.
- Lake Washington 14, Central Kitsap 6 - The Kangs used the long ball to overcome an early 4-1 deficit, scoring 13 runs in the middle three innings of the contest to cruise to a 14-6 win over Central Kitsap. Lake Washington finished the day with a season-high four home runs. Senior first-team All-KingCo performers Alex Potts and Eric Folkers drove in 10 runs on the day, with Potts jump starting the comeback with a game tying three-run blast in the third inning. Folkers followed two batters later with his first of two home runs, giving LW a lead they wouldn't relinquish. KingCo Player of the Year Christian Kaiser was the winning pitcher and also went 3-for-3 a the plate, while fellow senior Blake Lively hit a three-run home run in the fourth.
Second Round Recaps
- Newport 7, Olympia 2 - Senior left-hander Colin Hering picked up on the mound where he left off in the KingCo 4A tournament, allowing no earned runs in a complete game victory as the Knights advanced to Safeco Field with a 7-2 win over the Bears. Hering, who took Newport to state with a shutout over Redmond in the second round of KingCo, allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 8 on the day. The offensive stars for the Knights were the same as in game 1, with Tam Sing (2-for-4, double, RBI), King (2-for-2) and Nasu (2-for-4) led a 12-hit attack. Newport will take on Richland on Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the first of two 4A semifinals at Safeco Field.
- Tahoma 7, Issaquah 6 (9 inn.) - Heyden Johnson's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth ended a run at three straight trips to Safeco Field, as Issaquah saw their season end with a 7-6 loss to Tahoma. The Eagles overcame a 6-2 deficit, scoring four runs in the final three innings of regulation, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the ninth. Junior catcher Devin O'Donnell was 3-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI while sophomore Gavin Schumaker finished the day with 3 hits of his own. Issaquah finishes a great season with a record of 14-12.
- Puyallup 9, Lake Washington 5 - A seven-run third inning doomed the Kangs, as they saw their season end to the hands of the Vikings, 9-5. Lake Washington definitely had their chances but couldn't cash in, leaving 14 runners on base in the contest. Eric Folkers starred again for LW, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. He finished his Kangs career going 5-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs and 6 RBI in the state doubleheader. Center fielder Spencer Wozeniak was 3-for-3 with an RBI and Dan Reynar added two hits and an RBI for Lake Washington. The 2009 KingCo champions end their season with a final record of 19-5.
The final four matchups are Newport vs. Richland (4:00 pm) and Puyallup vs. Tahoma (7:00 pm), with the winners facing off for the 4A state title at 7:00 pm on Saturday night. Best of luck to the Knights as they represent KingCo 4A at Safeco Field!
