Friday, May 14, 2010

Redmond Wins 2010 KingCo Title

One KingCo team clinched a spot in the 4A state tournament, with two more having a chance to qualify on Saturday...

KingCo Championship: Redmond 6, Skyline 2

The Mustangs got home runs from Michael Conforto, Dylan Davis and Peter Herndon, as well as five strong innings from Davis on the mound to win the KingCo Championship, 6-2 over Skyline. Davis sputtered in the first, allowing 2 runs, but settled in after that, holding the Spartans hitless over his last four innings of work. Davis handed the ball to senior Ryan Beliel, who secured the win with two shutout innings. Redmond advances to the State tournament as the District 2/4 #1 seed, and will play at 10:00 am next Saturday (5/22) at Kent Memorial Park. Skyline will play a winner-to-state game against Evergreen HS from Vancouver this Saturday (5/15) at 2:00 pm at Woodinville HS.

KingCo Third Place Game: Bothell 5, Lake Washington 1
Senior Evan Hudson allowed just a run in six innings of work and Kevin McShane doubled and drove in 2 as the Cougars ended the Kangs season with a 5-1 win on Thursday afternoon. Lake Washington had their chances, but was only able to score a single run despite having 14 baserunners on the day. Kevin Knapp added two hits and an RBI for Bothell, who will travel to Kelso HS on Saturday with a state berth on the line. The game was the final one for Lake Washington in the KingCo 4A, as they will drop down to the 4A division starting in 2011.

Saturday (5/15) Schedule (Both games are winner to state, loser out)
Bothell (KingCo #3) @ Kelso (GSHL #1), 2:00 pm @ Kelso HS
Evergreen (GSHL #2) @ Skyline (KingCo #2), 2:00 pm - Woodinville HS

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

KingCo Final Four is Set

Tuesday's loser-out games saw the end of the season for two teams, with four surviving to play on the final day of the KingCo tournament:

Bothell 12, Inglemoor 6 - A seven-run first inning sparked the Cougars, as they eliminated Inglemoor with a 12-6 win on Tuesday afternoon. Bothell blasted three home runs, with Kevin Knapp, Michael Marriott and Brian McAfee providing the fireworks. Knapp also doubled and drove in four, while Marriott and McAfee each had 3 RBI. The Vikings had battled back to close to within 2 after 5 innings, but Bothell added a single run in the 6th before Marriott's three-run opposite field homer in the top of the seventh put the game out of reach. Seniors Scott Meyers and Ethan Yeo had two hits a piece, with Meyers and junior Peter Meuisi driving in a pair of runs for Inglemoor. The Vikings fabulous season comes to an end, finishing with an overall record of 18-5 and a Crown Division championship. Bothell moves on to the loser's bracket championship on Thursday, where they will play for the right to travel to Vancouver for a winner-to-state game Saturday.

Lake Washington 7, Issaquah 3 - Junior Wesley Russell allowed just two runs in five innings of work and sophomore Theo Alexander homered and drove in two as the Kangs knocked out Issaquah with a 7-3 win in Tuesday's night cap. The Kangs used a balanced attack, with eight different players combining for 12 hits and seven guys scoring one run a piece. Bob Cruikshank, Alex Donnelly, Chris Moore and Colin Tremblay each had multi-hit games for Lake Washington, who will take on Bothell in Thursday's third-place game. For Issaquah, senior Spencer Rogers was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI and fellow senior Devin O'Donnell also had two hits and a double. The Eagles finish up their great season at 17-6.



The final day of KingCo 4A baseball for the 2010 season is set. Both the third place game and the KingCo championship will be played on Thursday at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm respectively. The third place game pits Bothell and Lake Washington against one another for the third time this year. Bothell won the previous two meetings and will look to complete the sweep. The winner will travel to Vancouver on Saturday for a State play-in game against the winner of the GSHL championship game between the Evergreen Plainsmen (13-8) and the Kelso Hilanders (17-3).

The KingCo Championship game follows, with Skyline taking on Redmond. The Mustangs won both contests during the regular season, but will see a different Spartans team on Thursday night. Skyline has allowed just two runs in two games against the powerful offenses of Inglemoor and Issaquah. Meanwhile, Redmond defeated both participants in the third place game (Lake Washington & Bothell) to reach the tournament final. The winner will be the District 2/4 #1 seed to state, while the loser will host the GSHL runner-up on Saturday for a spot in the 4A State tournament.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Skyline, Redmond Advance to Title Game

The KingCo tournament resumed Monday, with all eight playoff teams once again in action.

Winner's Bracket
Skyline 3, Issaquah 1 - The Spartans played giant killer once again on Monday, with senior Peyton Harrod one-hitting Issaquah in Skyline's 3-1 win. The victory moves the Spartans, who were 7-9 in the regular season, into Thursday night's KingCo championship game. Harrod, who missed the first half of the season with an arm injury, was masterful against the powerful Eagles lineup. He did not walk a single batter and struck out six, with the only blemish a solo home run by Issy senior Spencer Rogers. Senior Shane Yarnell was the tough luck loser, surrendering 3 unearned runs while striking out 8 in a complete game. Sean Penberthy was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored for Skyline, who is guaranteed at worse a play-in game with the Greater St. Helen's League runner up for a trip to the State tournament.

Redmond 4, Bothell 1 - Junior right hander Zach Abbruzza picked up where he left off in the regular season, dominating another potent lineup as Redmond moved into the KingCo Championship with a 4-1 win over Bothell. Abbruzza has been tough on the mound all year long and Monday night was no exception. He allowed just a run on 3 hits while striking out 8, going the distance in the Mustang victory. He was also 3-for-4 with a double, getting help from Dylan Davis and Patrick McGrath, who each chipped in with two hits of their own. Jon Mercer doubled and Ryan Morgan tripled for the Cougars, who face elimination in a loser-out game on Tuesday.

Loser's Bracket
Inglemoor 7, Woodinville 6
- In the first of two dramatic loser-out games on Monday, the Vikings prevailed with a 7-6 win over Woodinville. The game was a back-and-forth affair with Inglemoor's run in the bottom of the sixth proving to be the difference. Emmett Maki was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and also picked up the win in relief for the Viks. Jake Dammrose finished his high school career going 3-for-4 with a triple. Woodinville's season comes to an end with the loss, while Inglemoor will take on Bothell Tuesday at 4:00 pm in another loser out game, this time at Woodinville HS.

Lake Washington 5, Newport 4 (8 inn.) - Junior Wesley Russell's controversial home run in the top of the eighth inning kept the Kangs' season alive, as they snuck past Newport, 5-4. The home run was hit high down the left-field line and the delayed call could have gone either way. However, the umpires ruled that the ball hooked around the foul pole, giving LW the lead which they held in the bottom of the eighth. Fellow junior Bob Cruikshank was the winning pitcher, going 7 innings and allowing 5 hits and 4 runs (2 earned), adding 5 strikeouts. Joey Gale took the loss for Newport, despite striking out four Kangs in just two innings of work. LW lives another day, and will take on Issaquah in the nightcap of a loser-out doubleheader at Woodinville HS on Tuesday.



Remaining Tournament Schedule (all games at Woodinville HS):

Tuesday, 5/11
Game #9: Bothell vs. Inglemoor, 4:00 pm (loser out)
Game #10: Lake Washington vs. Issaquah, 7:00 pm (loser out)

Thursday, 5/13
Game #11: Game #9 winner vs. Game #10 winner, 4:00 pm
(winner plays @ GSHL #1 on Saturday, 5/15; loser out)

KingCo Championship: Skyline vs. Redmond, 7:00 pm
(winner KingCo #1 to State, loser plays vs. GSHL #2 on Saturday, 5/15)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

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.