BELLINGHAM – Trailing 5-0 after five innings the Storm scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Borderites put senior Colby Knutzen on the mound to get the final four outs and Blaine walked away with the 5-4 victory at Joe Martin Field on Tuesday.
Junior lefty Tyler Haggith pitched brilliantly for the Borderites in the first varsity start of his career. He went five innings, giving up just one hit while facing the minimum amount of batters. He also struck out four batters.
Blaine got on the board early when sophomore designated hitter Kyle Turnberg singled in senior Ben Wallen in the second inning. Junior first baseman Tobin Akre then scored on a passed ball. Knutzen singled in the third inning and stole second base, and he scored on a line-drive single by senior Chase Abshere.
Junior left fielder Griffin King used his speed to run out a two-out infield hit in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. Because it was a full count, the runners were already advancing on the pitch and King was able to knock in two runs on the single.
The Storm showed that they had a lot of fight left in them in the sixth inning. Senior Keenan Rice began the inning with a single to right field, which was followed by a bunt base hit by catcher Lucas Nickleson. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third, and sophomore third baseman Mason Binning drove in both runs on a sharply hit ball to the outfield.
Travis Krause bunted Binning to second base, and that was followed by a four-pitch walk by senior shortstop Josh Boysen. The tide had definitely turned at that moment for the Storm, and into the box stepped the dangerous left-handed hitting senior August Williams. Blaine relief pitcher Hayden Dohner threw a perfect fastball on the inside corner to strike out Williams, but that was just the second out of the inning.
Senior center fielder Mitchell Sage then came to the plate and hit a 3-0 pitch down the right field line. Blaine senior right fielder Hudson Reid charged hard after the ball, and gave his maximum effort diving after the ball but came up just short. The ball was ruled fair, and Sage ended up with a triple that scored two runs. At this point was when Knutzen came in to pitch, and he closed the door.
The Borderites (1-0) will host Mariner (0-0) on Thursday, and Squalicum (0-2) will play at Sehome (1-2) on Thursday.
WP: Haggith (1-0). LP: Williams (0-1). SV: Knutzen (1).
BLA: Knutzen 1-2, 2 BB, SB, R; King 1-4, 2 RBI; Abshere 1-4, RBI; Wallen 2 BB, SB; Akre 1-2, R, BB; K. Turnberg 2-2, R, BB; Gunderson 1-3, R.
SQU: Boysen BB, R; Sage 2-3, 2 RBI, 3B; Rice 1-1; Allen R; Nickelson 2-3, R, SB; Binning 1-3, 2 RBI, R.
