Reporter staff
Kentwood is two wins away from another Class 4A state championship.
First Kentwood has to get through South Kitsap — which beat up on the Conquerors in the district tournament with a five-inning, 11-1 victory.
The rematch is 4 p.m. Friday in the semifinals at GESA Stadium in Pasco.
On the other side of the bracket, surprising Kentridge knocked off host Richland 10-8 in the morning game last Saturday behind Zach Beatty’s grand slam. The Chargers then beat Cascade 6-1 as Kentridge’s pitcher Sam Dacus tossed a one-hitter and Dumit Malacon hit two home runs, earning Kentridge a spot in the semifinals against Skyview.
Dacus will return to the mound on Saturday, while Jeremy Rabaliuman will kick off the weekend on Friday.
This is the second straight state appearance for Kentridge, which was eliminated in the first round a year ago. Prior to 2012, the Chargers had not made it to the state tournament since 2003, and has one trophy to their name in school history — a third-place finish in 1991.
“It is awesome (to be in the final four and) a great achievement for the players,” said Kentridge coach John Flanigan.If Kentwood and Kentridge win in the semifinals, the state championship would be an all-Kent School District affair.
“They are a great team with a great history,” Flanigan said. “We will try to score more runs than them this time.”
In order to earn a trip to the final four, Kentwood beat Bothell and Olympia on May 18 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Though the Conks came away with the 4-3 win in the morning game against the Cougars, it was a battle to the end.
Both teams scored two runs in the fourth inning. Kentwood scored again in the bottom of the fifth to go up 3-2.
In the sixth both the Conks and the Cougars scored a run apiece, but, that extra run in the fifth held up for Kentwood.
The Conks put up seven hits including three separate players hitting RBI doubles. Spencer Greene went 2-for-2 at the plate against Bothell with a double and an RBI while Kramer Sims was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Kade Kryzsko was 1-for-2 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI while Tanner Wessling had a double and an RBI. Kryzsko pitched a complete game against the Cougars, giving up three runs, six hits and one walk while striking out two.
In the afternoon game against Olympia, the contest went into an extra frame with Kentwood taking it on an offensive explosion in the bottom of the eighth to win 13-7.
The Conks scored in each of the first four innings while holding the Bears to one run.
Heading into the top of the sixth, Kentwood had a 6-1 lead, but Olympia battled back and scored four in the sixth then tied it up in the top of the seventh. The Bears then took the 7-6 lead in the top of the eight before the Conks let loose with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Senior catcher Reese McGuire led Kentwood, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Freshman pitcher Jordan Jones had a banner day at the plate, as well, going 2-for-5 with a double and driving in four runs. Kramer Sims went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base, Kryzsko was 2-for-5 with an RBI, Wessling was 2-for-4 with a double, Connor Sims was 2-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBIs while Michael Ciancio had a double and two runs scored. Jones threw six innings while Wessling picked up the win in relief.
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