Playing Between the Raindrops

Three 4A league games were played yesterday amidst the rainy weather that has plagued the Seattle area this week.

Crest Division

Redmond 12, Issaquah 1 - Five different Mustangs homered, including 2 from Week 1 Player of the Week Zach Abbruzza, as Redmond remained unbeaten in league play with a 12-1 win over Issaquah. Junior Peter Hendron was the winner, striking out six in three shutout innings. Dylan Davis, Jake Levin and Patrick McGrath were the other Mustangs to hit home runs, helping the team jump out to an 9-0 lead after 2 innings of play. Abbruzza's tear continued, as he drove in 5 more runs to bring his season total to 15 in four league games. Gavin Schumacher drove in the lone Eagles run.

Newport 5, Skyline 0 - Cole Wiper shutout the Spartans, striking out 10 in a complete game 5-0 Newport victory. The University of Oregon signee allowed just 2 hits and 3 walks in keeping Skyline off the board and needing just 83 pitches to do it. The senior also added two hits and an RBI, while junior Nate Anderson chipped in with a triple and two runs scored. Daniel Altchech and Jared Fisher each had two hits for Newport, who improved to 2-1 on the season. Clayton Huber was 2-for-3 in defeat for the Spartans.

Crown Division

Bothell 6, Ballard 5 - The Cougars scored four runs in a decisive sixth inning to come back from a 5-2 deficit to stay unbeaten with a 6-5 win over Ballard. Senior shortstop John Mercer was 2-for-3 with a triple and 3 RBI to help make a winner out of Eric Gregory. Ben Welch (2-for-3, double, 3 runs) and Frank Airey (2-for-3, RBI) led a 10-hit Beaver attack. Bothell will look to complete the sweep of the Crown Division on Friday when they travel to Garfield HS to take on the Bulldogs.

Cougars, 'Stangs Remain Unbeaten

Apologies for getting Monday's recaps up late - been distracted by the sun and 80 degree temps in Tucson :)

Two teams remain unbeaten in KingCo play after three games, with Bothell and Redmond leading their respective divisions early on...

Crest Division
Redmond 4, Newport 3 - In a matchup of two highly-touted arms, it was the bullpens that made the difference in Redmond's 4-3 win over Newport. Nick Rothermel and Michael Conforto shut out the Knights over the final four frames, with Conforto striking out the side in the seventh to preserve the win. Redmond touched up UW-bound starter Jared Fisher for 4 runs on 4 hits and six walks over five innings, tagging him with the loss. Oregon State signee Dylan Davis left with the lead, allowing 3 earned on a hit in three innings, but did not factor in the decision as he didn't complete four innings. Rothermel was the winning pitcher, scattering a hit and two walks in three scoreless innings of work.

Skyline 9, Eastlake 1 - Connor Gilchrist and Travis Snider combined on a four-hitter as the Spartans beat cross-town rival Eastlake, 9-1. Skyline collected 11 hits on the day and were led by the trio of Snider (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Clayton Huber (2-3, 2 doubles, 3 RBI) and Jimmy Sinatro (3-for-4, double, RBI). Snider earned the save, pitching three scoreless innings while striking out four to close out the Wolves, who were led offensively by the two hits of John Armour. Week 1 KingCo 4A Crest Division pitcher of the week Andrew Stull was touched up in defeat.

Crown Division
Bothell 3, Inglemoor 0 (8 inn.) - Senior right hander Brian McAfee pitched a game for the ages, going all eight innings allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out 14, as Bothell continued their hot start with a 3-0 win over rival Inglemoor. The game was scoreless through 7 innings, with Inglemoor seniors Dustin Doucette and Alex Morrow matching McAfee's zeroes. Dain Gilbert drove in a run in the Cougars three-run top of the eighth.

Ballard 5, Roosevelt 4 - Brendan Foor was 4-for-4 with a double and Steven Weber was 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Beavers scored twice in the 6th and twice in the 7th for a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Roosevelt. The Roughriders were cruising behind starter David Holt, leading 4-1 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning. However, Ballard kept pressing, walking off with a victory in the bottom of the seventh.

Woodinville 9, Garfield 4 - Sophomore Doug Sullivan was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI as the Falcons scored 4 runs in the third and another 4 in the sixth en route to a 9-4 win over Garfield. Spencer Greer picked up his second win in as many starts, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs over four innings of work. The junior right hander also drove in two runs to help his cause, while Nate Wilham finished the night 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Four Bulldogs had two hits - Chandler Honican, John Trupin, Hank Droege and Hayes Gorecki - in the loss.

KingCo 4A Awards - Week 1

KingCo 4A Baseball - Players of the Week
Week 1: March 21 - 26, 2011

Crest Division
Player of the Week: Zach Abbruzza, Sr., Redmond
Gonzaga signee Zach Abbruzza has been on a tear all season. The first week of Kingco play was no different as he was 6-7 in a two game week with four of his six hits going for extra bases. He finished the week with two triples, two homeruns, and 10 RBI. Through seven total games, Zach is hitting .714 with 4 HR’s and 24 RBI.

Also nominated: NONE

Pitcher of the Week: Andrew Stull, Jr., Eastlake
Eastlake junior Andrew Stull threw five excellent innings against the Issaquah Eagles. On the day, the right-hander only walked one while striking out three. All three runs scored against Stull were unearned, resulting in a tough luck loss for the junior.

Also nominated: Dylan Davis, Redmond

Crown Division
Player of the Week: Zach Naon, Jr., Roosevelt
Zach Naon receives player of the week honors for the Crown division after a brilliant two game offensive display against Bothell and Garfield. In this first week of KIngCo play, the Roosevelt junior hit .571 going 4-for-7 with a grand slam, 2 doubles, and 6 RBI's. He also stole a base and scored three runs. In total, Naon is slugging .611 with a .333 batting average on the year.

Also nominated: Brian McAfee, Bothell

Pitcher of the Week: Spencer Greer, Jr., Woodinville
Against a highly potent Inglemoor offense, the Woodinville junior pitched himself into Crown Division Pitcher of the Week honors. Greer threw six outstanding innings only allowing one unearned run while striking out eight. The performance led the falcons to a 5-1 win over the rival Vikings.

Also nominated: John Trupin, Garfield