KingCo Playoffs - Tuesday Recaps

KingCo 3A - First Round
Liberty 7, Mercer Island 2 - The Patriots jumped out on MI starter Hunter Goldberg, scoring six times in the bottom of the first inning and cruised to a 7-2 win over the Islanders in the first game of the KingCo 3A tournament. Ben Wessel started and worked 5 solid innings, allowing 2 earned while striking out 6. Liberty was led offensively by Nick Short, who went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI. Wessel and Jalen Mano added two hits a piece for the Pats, who advance to the 3A semi-finals to take on top-seeded Mount Si on Thursday night at 7:00 PM. Junior Alex Himstead drove in both Mercer Island runs and Matt Orehek added two hits of his own, as the Islanders season ends with a record of 8-13.

Bellevue 3, Juanita 2 - Senior Michael Raine outdueled junior Sean Brennan, as the Wolverines fought off a game Juanita team, 3-2. Raine worked five strong innings, allowing just two Rebel runs before making way for Trent Ishii, who pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning to record the save. Brennan was the tough luck loser, allowing three runs in his four innings of work. Bellevue advances to Thursday's semi-finals where they will take on Lake Washington, a team they split the regular season with. Juanita, who started just one senior on Tuesday, sees its season end with a record of 4-16.

KingCo 4A - Loser Out Games
Inglemoor 7, Bothell 6 - Lucas Wimmer's 2-out walk-off double kept a resilient Vikings team alive, as they ended the season of Northshore rival Bothell, 7-6. Inglemoor trailed 6-5 headed into the 7th, but got a solo home run by Blake Wilson to tie the game and set the stage for Wimmer's heroics. Curtis Bafus also homered for the Viks, with Zach Anderson hitting a solo home run for Bothell. Inglemoor is now two wins away from State, while the defending 4A state champion Cougars end their season with a record of 12-11.

Ballard 6, Newport 4 - Frank Airey doubled twice and drove in 3 runs as the Beavers extended their great season with a 6-4 win over Newport. Joe Jacobson allowed just 1 run in 4 1/3 innings, while Caleb Jaeger picked up the save, recording the final two outs of the game. Ballard will face Inglemoor on Thursday at 4:00 PM for the opportunity to take on the WesCo #3 seed with a trip to State on the line. Newport, who got two hits each from Ioannis Kritsonis, Mason Paul and Jake Rosen, has its season come to an end with a record of 12-10.

** special thanks to Jim Greer for information on the 4A games
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The four remaining teams in each classification take Wednesday off, with a big day of KingCo baseball action scheduled for Thursday. The schedule is listed below, along with links to each league's updated tournament bracket:

KingCo 4A - Thursday Schedule
4:00 PM - Ballard vs. Inglemoor (winner to district play-in game, loser out)

KingCo 4A Championship
7:00 PM - Issaquah vs. Redmond (winner #1 to State, loser #2 to State)

KingCo 3A - Thursday Semi-Finals
4:00 PM - Bellevue vs. Lake Washington
7:00 PM - Liberty vs. Mount Si

KingCo Playoff Brackets: 3A Tourney | 4A Tourney