KingCo 4A Opening Day

League play started on Tuesday for the 4A clubs, with 10 of the league's 11 teams opening with a conference opponent. Pitching was the theme of the day, as most clubs sent their aces to the hill to try and start the season off with a win. Four of the five league contests saw the winning team allow just one run or less, and we saw a couple dramatic finishes.

4A Crest Division
Redmond 12, Eastlake 1 - Gonzaga-bound Zach Abbruzza went off for the Mustangs, driving in 7 runs while going a perfect 4-for-4 with two triples as Redmond opened league play with a 12-1 win over the Wolves of Eastlake. Jake Levin was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 runs scored and Connor Bozman was 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, helping pace the 12-hit attack. The Stangs scored in every inning but the fourth, with 6 different players driving in runs. Dylan Davis picked up the win, allowing just a hit and an earned run over four innings. Peyton Lutz and Thomas Crosley pitched shutout innings to close things out.

Newport 1, Issaquah 0 - Senior catcher Daniel Altchech drove in the winning run on an infield ground ball with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to squeak the Knights past their rival Eagles, 1-0. The opening KingCo game for both clubs was a classic pitcher's duel, with Cole Wiper and Jared Fisher combining to keep Issaquah off the scoreboard all day. Wiper got a no-decision, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks over 5, striking out 8. He also wiggled out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the fifth inning. Fisher allowed just a hit over the final two frames and earned the win thanks to the seventh inning heroics. Ethan Kalin and Scott Boydston matched every zero of Newport's division 1 combo on the mound until the final inning. Nate Anderson was 2-for-4 for Newport, while senior second baseman Gavin Schumaker had two of Issaquah's 3 hits on the day.

4A Crown Division
Garfield 3, Ballard 1 - Junior John Trupin went the distance for the Bulldogs, scattering seven hits and allowing just one earned run as Garfield won their opener, 3-1 over Ballard. Spencer Scott's two-run single in a three-run sixth inning gave the Bulldogs the lead for good, as Trupin held off the Beavers in the seventh inning. Sophomore infielder Chandler Honican was 2-for-2 with a run scored and Trupin added a hit and an RBI for Garfield. Sophomore Ryan Kangas was 2-for-3 with a double and drove in the lone Ballard run. However, Kangas took the loss in relief, allowing all three runs in the sixth inning after starter Danny Thompson had held the 'Dogs at bay over the first four innings.

Bothell 7, Roosevelt 6 - The Cougars scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to walkoff on the Roughriders Tuesday, 7-6. Bothell used a four-run fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead into the seventh. However, Roosevelt would not quit, scoring 4 runs of their own in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. The Cougars answered the call, plating the tying and go ahead runs in the bottom half of the frame to escape with a victory. Brian McAfee, Mitchell Viydo and Brad Monson each drove in two runs for Bothell with Viydo collecting three hits on the day. The Roughriders were led by Zach Naon (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Jack Brennan (2-for-4) and Eli Mathieu (2-for-3, 2 runs). Brady Mickelson was the winning pitcher, pitching the final two-thirds of the top of the seventh with a strikeout.

Woodinville 5, Inglemoor 1 - Junior right hander Spencer Greer struck out 8 over 6 one-hit innings and senior Carl Svanevik was 2-for-2 as the Falcons got an opening day KingCo victory, 5-1 over the defending Crown division champion Vikings. Greer took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, with his only run allowed being an unearned run in the sixth. Junior Cody Bauman struck out the side in the seventh to secure the win. Senior Sean Sellers had two walks and an RBI, while sophomore Caleb Hamilton doubled and drove in a run. Junior Blake Wilson drove in the lone score for Inglemoor. Woodinville will travel to Bothell for a matchup of 1-0 teams on Thursday night.

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From here on out on the blog, the focus will be on league games. With KingCo 4A play starting up yesterday and 3A soon to follow, we have plenty to keep up with. As time allows, I will list scores from non-league contests (as seen below)...

Non-League Scores
Mount Si 11, Skyline 5
Mountlake Terrace 5, Mercer Island 2