Thursday, April 24, 2014

Divisional Rivalries Resume

Wednesday saw only four games as Eastlake sat idle with a bye and the Garfield-Skyline matchup was postponed. If anything, the day only tightened the races rather than clearing anything up.


Woodinville 8 @ Bothell 5 - Alex Worthington struck out 10 in 6 1/3 innings of relief to spark Woodinville to the Crest Division victory. Worthington, a junior left-hander, entered the game with the bases loaded, no outs, and two runs already in in the bottom of the first inning but minimized the damage there and worked around trouble all night, giving up only two runs. Woodinville catcher Lee Wunderlich broke a 5-5 tie in the fourth inning with a run-scoring single and finished with three hits and three RBI. Trevor Cook hit two doubles, drove in two runs, and struck out two batters to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh. Peyton Cordova-Smith and Colby Nealy drove in two runs apiece for Bothell. The loss drops Bothell to second in the Crest Division as Woodinville jumps into a tie with Inglemoor for the 4th spot.
 
Inglemoor 2 @ Redmond 5 - The Mustangs' Kyle Francis turned in another dazzling performance on the mound in six innings of one run ball. He also helped himself with an RBI in the first to set the tone offensively. It was senior Daniel Bies, however, who had the big blow for the Mustangs as he laced a bases loaded two out single through the left side of the infield which pushed the Mustang lead to 3-0. All told, eight Mustang starters had a hit on the day. For Inglemoor, senior Curtis Bafus had two of the four Viking hits. The win runs Redmond's streak to eight games in a row and a one game lead over Bothell in the Crest Division standings.
 
Newport 3 @ Issaquah 5 - Issaquah lefty Ryan Peart tossed six innings, keeping the Newport hitters off-balance for most of the day. However, the Knights never gave in, battling back with a run in the 4th and 6th. In the 7th, Newport had cut the lead to two with runners at second and third. That is when Eagle reliever David Van Halm beared down and got the ground ball he needed to end the game. For Newport, Jace Goforth had two hits while Issaquah's Nic Sutherland had two as well. The win bumps Issaquah into a second place tie with Newport at 6-5. Both teams are a half game behind Skyline.
 
Ballard 4 @ Roosevelt 1 - Ballard made its five hits stand up as they inched closer to the 4th and final playoff spot with a victory at Lower Woodland. The big hit, a two out, two RBI double in the third off the bat of senior John Peterson, was all the Beavers would need. Ballard starting pitcher Zach Ehrlich went the distance allowing a single run on four hits. Ballard is now 4-7 while Roosevelt sits a game ahead at 5-6.