Storm lose 4A title game; Knights miss repeating in Class 1A
The Skyview Storm made it to the final game of the final day of Class 4A baseball in Washington.
They did not, however, get to walk off the field victorious.
Richland scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Skyview 5-2 in the WIAA Class 4A state championship game at GESA Stadium in Pasco.
Ryan Pitts had a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning, but the Storm bats were quieted the rest of the way by the Bombers. Skyview had three hits in that first inning, and one hit the rest of the game.
Richland loaded the bases in the seventh inning, scored on a bunt single and then added two more runs on a single.
The Storm had to settle for a second-place trophy, one year after taking third place.
Later in the day Saturday, King’s Way Christian missed out on its opportunity to win back-to-back Class 1A state baseball championships.
Freeman jumped on the Knights early and ended up with a 6-2 victory in the title game at County Stadium in Yakima.
Jace Phelen drove in four runs to lead the Freeman offense.
The Knights scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings, with Hunter Aarhus and Bryce Dodge driving in those runs. They entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing by four and then loaded the bases with two out. The rally, however, did not materialize.
Freeman got the final out to end the comeback hopes.
Still, it was a memorable ride for the Knights. Yes, they were defending champions, but the six key members from last year’s squad had gone. A new coach, Gregg Swenson, took over the program. After some struggles early in the season, the Knights went on a roll to win another Trico League title and then won three in a row to claim the district tournament, then opened the state tournament with three consecutive shutouts.
