BELLINGHAM – Three Whatcom County teams were left standing going into this past weekend, but only one could advance to the Class 1A State Tournament. Meridian (16-8) beat Nooksack Valley and Lynden Christian on Saturday to move on, and it will play King’s Way Christian (16-6) at Castle Rock on Saturday at 1:00.
Trojans senior Warren Utchinski pitched brilliantly against the Pioneers in the opening game at Joe Martin Field. It took the 6-foot-8 righty just 81 pitches, as he dissected the Nooksack Valley lineup giving up just three hits in his complete game shut out. Designated hitter Henry Skaggs continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 and Bryson Hickok scored a pair of runs.
But perhaps the biggest moment/applause in the game was when senior Lucas Hemenway was able to pinch run for Skaggs in the sixth inning. Hemenway has signed on to play baseball next season at Saint Martin’s University, but he hasn’t been able to play all year due to a broken hand. Hickok’s single scored Hemenway, putting the game at 4-0, which was the final score.
Nooksack Valley’s season ended at 10-13.
Lynden Christian defeated South Whidbey 5-2 in a loser-out game behind the right arm of junior Payton Robertson. He gave up just two hits, and struck out three, while nearly completing the game. Freshman Luke Johnson came in to close to game, giving him his Whatcom County leading fifth save of the season.
The Lyncs got hits from Shane Whittern, Cole Langstraat, Jared Smit, Tanner Jansen and Robertson. Whittern scored two of his teams’ five runs. Also, as LC is known for, they were active on the base paths stealing nine bases.
The showdown between the Lyncs and the Trojans was set, and it was Simon Burkett against Tanner Jansen. Meridian got on the board first when third baseman Cole Weidkamp led off the second inning with a double down the left field line. Ryan Johnson then sacrificed Weidkamp to third base, and Skaggs lined a single to right field, scoring Weidkamp.
The Lyncs answered in the following inning when Shale Whittern scorched a two-out single to left field, followed by a Dylan VanderYacht single to right field. Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch, which set up Shane Whittern’s RBI single.
The score remained tied at one until the bottom of the fifth when senior catcher Baker Otter crushed a two-out double to left field, scoring Dylan Hickok. Burkett’s powerful fastball, and nasty slider, took care of the rest as the Trojans came out on top, 2-1. The 6-foot-3 senior pitcher struck out 11 batters while giving up just three hits.
The Lyncs’ season came to end with a 14-10 record.
