BELLINGHAM – Yes, it was still a non-league game, but the inner-city battle between Squalicum and Sehome was a great game between two top pitchers. Storm senior Mitchell Sage was masterful and efficient as he battled Sehome sophomore Jacob Kaepernick. Both hurlers went six innings, and each threw around just 70 pitches. Sage allowed just one run, and Kaepernick allowed two runs (one unearned), and it was the Storm that came out with the 4-1 victory at Sehome High School.
The game featured a brisk pace with both pitchers pounding the strike zone. The Mariners got on the board first when leadoff hitting shortstop Trevor Seaholm hit a one-out single in the bottom of the third inning. After a flyout, Kaepernick singled, moving Seaholm to third base. Senior catcher Lukas DeLisle hit a hard base hit to the outfield to score Seaholm.
Squalicum answered back in the top of the fourth when senior first baseman August Williams hit a line drive single to open up the inning. Williams then stole second base, and two outs later it was sophomore third baseman Mason Binning that knocked in Williams. Junior catcher Lukas Nickelson followed by putting the ball in play, and an error allowed Binning to score from first on the play.
The next two innings held form with the Storm leading 2-1.
Nickelson led off the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line. Keenan Patterson then reached base on an error, and Nickelson scored. Keenan Rice batted for Bryce Pennock and was hit by a pitch on a full count. Pennock was re-inserted to pinch run, and promptly stole second base. Senior second baseman Travis Krause executed a perfect suicide squeeze with Patterson breaking for home, and the Storm got their fourth run of the game.
Sophomore Brad Whitman pitched the final inning for Squalicum, and he looked dominant striking out two batters and sitting down the Mariner hitters in order to get his first varsity save.
The Storm (1-2) will host a double header against Cascade (0-1) on Saturday, and Sehome (1-3) will play host to River Ridge (1-0) on Saturday.
W: Sage (1-0)
L: Kaepernick (1-1)
S: Whitman (1)
SQU: Krause 1-3, RBI; Boysen 1-3; Williams 1-3, R, SB; Carlson 1-3, SB; Binning 1-3, RBI, R; Nickelson 1-3, 2B, R; Pennock 1-2, SB.
SEH: Seaholm 2-4, R, SB; Ketteridge 2-3, Kaepernick 1-3, DeLisle 1-3, RBI.
Roll Storm!
Thank you so much for the recap ! There boys all deserve to have this informative article and I hope it reaches more of the Bellingham community . This is the “good stuff”!