Reporter staff
Kentwood is back in baseball’s final four after delivering back-to-back victories at the state 4A playoffs at Puyallup’s Heritage Park on Saturday.
The Conquerors struck early and often to put away Walla Walla 7-3, then defeated Gig Harbor 7-4 in the state quarterfinals.
Kentwood (23-7) takes on a still-to-be determined opponent in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. Skyline meets Wenatchee in the other Friday semi at 4 p.m.
State playoffs and the Conks go hand-in-hand. They have made it to state six of the last seven years, having won six South Puget Sound League Northeast Division titles in that span.
Against Gig Habor, the Conquerors jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings.
Senior shortstop Isaac Hegamin went 3 for 3, with a double, two singles and a walk to trigger the Conks’ attack. Daniel Tanaka launched a two-run homer.
Ben Wadowski, who posted the win, tripled and drove in three runs. Wadowski allowed four hits and three runs while striking out five in four innings of work.
In the win against Walla Walla, Hegamin went 3-for-5, with a double, triple and RBI. Shane McGuire blasted a pair of triples and drove in two runs. Trenton Harris also drove in two runs.
University of Washington commit Jordan Jones allowed five hits and three runs, striking out 10, in a complete-game victory.
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