The Baseball Observer May-June 2016 vol 7 | Page 8

The Baseball Observer - May/ June 2016

8

LONGVIEW— On the final day, 2 region

champions squared off to decide the 2016

championship. Yakima Valley Yaks entering

the contest at 33-17 (3-1 tournament) and

the Everett Trojans coming in at 39-12

(4-1 tournament).

The Trojans elected to start Nick Hoskins

who only had 3 non-conference starts on

the year while Yakima decided to hand the

ball to Chris Petrosie who closed for Isaac

Mitchum against Everett in their first

meeting on Friday.

Both pitchers looked sharp allowing no

runs through the first 3 innings. Both

teams would threaten in the 2nd with

runners on first and second but could not produce.

In the top of the 4th, Parker Depasquale laced a double by right fielder Bryce Peterson who could not get to it in time to score Kyler Brudwick to make it 1-0 Yakima.

In the top of the 5th, Trojan reliever Christian Jarnigan would get into some trouble loading the bases forcing Levi Lacy to hand the ball to Taylor Shea who started day 2 for EVCC. Connor Anderson connected on a Shea fastball and sent it into left to score Tanner Parker.

Shea rebounded by striking out Karsten Sherman but Brudwick found outfield grass bringing around 2 runs to pad the Yaks' lead to 4-0. Shea quickly stopped the bleeding with a Depasquale fly out to center.

Everett loaded the bases in the 6th with one and benefited on a balk call that plated Andrew Ivelia to cut the lead to 4-1 after 6.

Two runners reached base immediately in the Yaks' 7th and were bunted over into scoring position by pinch hitter Ryan Maley.

Everett went to the pen again bringing in Ryan Monson to face Depasquale who singled in Alec Chaney making it 5-1. Yakima brought in Dakota Weindell to relieve Petrosie and he immediately recorded 2 outs before allowing Jacob Prater to reach on an error and then be driven in by an Andrew Ivelia double down the line in left.

Windell would load the bases after hitting Tanner Arrington in the back but would retire Josh McIntyre on a soft liner to short. 5-2 Yakima Valley.

Monson allowed 2 Yaks batters to reach but was able to get pinch hitter Colin Cinkovich to ground out to 3rd ending the threat. In the bottom of the 8th, Everett would go down in order on 3 fly outs.

In the 9th, Monson used a line drive double play to first to eliminate the only runner to reach base leaving Everett with 3 outs to make a 3-run comeback.

Weindell retired Bryce Steckler for out number 1 on a ground ball to third.

On the very next pitch, Prater would ground out to short. Andrew Ivelia drew a 2 out walk leading to a Bryce Peterson single to left. But Weindell got Arrington to fly out to center giving the Yaks the win and their first championship in the last 33 years with the final score 5-2.

Yakima Valley wins 21st Baseball Title

Courtesy NWAC Athletics

by Tracy Swisher & Spencer Roland, NWAC Sports Information

by Tracy Swisher & Spencer Roland, NWAC Sports