RICHLAND – After beating Kiona-Benton in round one of the 1A State Fastpitch Playoffs, the Mountaineers lost a heart-breaker to Chewelah 6-3 in eight innings, and followed it up with a 2-1 victory over Connell.
“We had our chances against Chewelah,” Mountie coach Ron Lepper said. “And, we didn’t play our sharpest game against Connell. The double play was huge in the sixth inning.”
The double play that “Coach Lep” referred to took place when Baker held a one-run lead in the sixth inning. Eagle standout freshman Emma Andrewjeski led off the inning with a rope-single to right field. Mountaineer pitcher Tyler Miles nabbed a comebacker and doubled Andrewjedki off at first base. It allowed the Baker defense to get through the middle of the Connell lineup, and eventually secure the victory.
In the Mountaineer loss, McKenzie Ross knocked in Kennedy West and Christeena Smith-Hall scored Erica Brown. Kaylea Sleveland also knocked her second triple of the tournament, and scored on a wild pitch, much like the opening game.
Against Connell, West scored Sleveland in the first inning, and junior Anya Zender’s single scored West. Those were the only runs scored by the Mounties, as Miles battled her way through the Eagle’s lineup.
“I’m really proud of the way we played today,” Miles said. “We weren’t attacking the pitches like we could have, but we still get to play tomorrow.”
Indeed, Mount Baker will continue to play, and it will take on Warden tomorrow morning at 11:00 in a loser-out game.
