Semi-Finals Set in KingCo Tournament

On a beautiful day for baseball (about time!), the four first round matchups were played Saturday at Woodinville HS:

• Issaquah 5, Woodinville 0 - Senior Spencer Rogers struck out 9 in a 5-hit shutout as the Eagles topped the Falcons, 5-0. Mike Paulson and Ben Rosellini each had two hits for Issaquah, who broke open a 2-0 game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Spencer Brueske took the loss for Woodinville, while Jake Dammrose was 2-for-3.
• Skyline 5, Inglemoor 1 - Connor Lawhead went the distance for the Spartans in their 5-1 upset win over Crown Division champion Inglemoor. The Vikings took a KingCo best 14-2 record into the playoffs, but couldn't muster up enough offense off the Skyline right-hander to move on. Skyline, who finished the regular season at 7-9, moves on to the semifinals to take on rival Issaquah.
• Bothell 9, Newport 7 - Bothell overcame a 7-2 deficit, scoring 6 times in the bottom of the sixth inning to stun Newport, 9-7. The Cougars outhit the Knights 13-2 in the contest, and were led by junior Brian McAfee, who continued his magical season going 3-for-4 with a double, HR and 2 RBI. Newport took the lead thanks to some Cougar mistakes, which included hit-by-pitches and six errors. However, their bullpen kept them in the game, allowing for the late rally.
• Redmond 9, Lake Washington 2 - Junior Dylan Davis had the big blast in this one, a two-out grand slam in the third inning, propelling the Mustangs past the Kangs, 9-2. The game was scoreless until the bottom half of the third. An infield single by Zach Abbruzza scored the first Redmond run and Michael Conforto drew a bases loaded walk for the second run. Davis then hit a 1-0 breaking ball high into the trees over the left-center field fence, capping the 6-run inning. Ryan Beliel worked five solid innings for the win, leading Redmond to a showdown with Bothell in the semi-finals Monday night.

Four teams remain in contention for the KingCo title, and they will face off in Monday's semifinals at Woodinville HS. Skyline will take on Issaquah in the 4:00 pm game, with the league's two hottest teams facing off in the nightcap when Bothell takes on Redmond. The Mustangs have won four consecutive games, while the Cougars come in winners of seven straight.

The teams in the loser's bracket hold on to the hopes of the third and final KingCo berth to State. The third KingCo team will face off with the GSHL champion on Saturday, 5/15. The loser-out contests also take place on Monday at Inglemoor HS, with Woodinville and Inglemoor playing in the afternoon game, with Newport-LW to follow at 7:00 pm.