BELLINGHAM – A line drive down the left field line scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as Tumwater defeated Lynden 2-1 and repeated as the 2A State Baseball Champions at Joe Martin Field.
If Lynden had won, it would have been the first time in state history that a school won a state championship in football, boys basketball and baseball in the same school year. Instead, it was the 31st time that a school won two out of the three, including the sixth time that Lynden has done it.
Senior Bubba Parcher pitched a great game, allowing just three hits over six innings, but when he walked the first batter he faced to lead off the bottom of the seventh, he was replaced on the mound by River Langstraat.
An immediate sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base, and an intentional walk to UNLV commit Alex Overbay gave the Lions a force out at any base in the infield. What looked to be a bloop hit between the infielders and outfielders turned into an amazing diving catch by second baseman Cooper Moore for the second out.
In fact, it was the second state championship game of the year in which Moore made a diving catch late in the contest to keep his team alive.
Moore’s heroics were spoiled when the following batter delivered the game-winning hit.
“We had opportunities,” said Lynden coach Cory White. “We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”
Lynden’s lone run came in the third inning when Parcher drew a walk, took second on a balk, and then scored on a single by Kael Stapleton who then took second on an error by the left fielder.
It ended up as Lynden’s lone hit of the game, and Stapleton needed to be removed from the game shortly after following a finger injury. Parcher reached base all four times he was up, walking three times and getting hit by a pitch. He ended up leading Whatcom County in both categories for the season.
“That’s the thing about baseball, that’s different than football or basketball, you go with your number one pitcher when you need to, and then you see how your next pitchers can do,” White said after the game. “I’m walking off the field with no regrets.”
The Lions finished their season with a 22-7 record.
L: Parcher (2-2)
LYN: Stapleton 1-1, RBI.
Schools that have won two out of three state championships in the same school year for football, boys basketball and baseball:
2022-2023 - Lynden (football, basketball) 2021-2022 - Lynden (football, basketball) 2019-2020 - Odessa (football, basektball) 2017-2018 - Richland (football, baseball) 2017-2018 - Almira-Coulee-Hartline (football, baseball) 2013-2014 - Colton (basketball, baseball) 2011-2012 - Lynden (football, basketball) 2010-2011 - Cascade Christian (football, basketball) 2009-2010 - Kentwood (basketball, baseball) 2006-2007 - Lynden (football, basketball) 2004-2005 - O'Dea (basketball, baseball) 2003-2004 - Archbishop Murphy (football, baseball) 2001-2002 - Colfax (football, baseball) 1999-2000 - Okanogan (football, baseball) 1999-2000 - DeSales (football, baseball) 1997-1998 - Elma (football, basketball) 1997-1998 - DeSales (football, baseball) 1997-1997 - Royal (football, baseball) 1995-1996 - Pateros (football, basketball) 1994-1995 - Dayton (football, basketball) 1991-1992 - Mount Vernon (basketball, baseball) 1991-1992 - Lynden (football, basketball) 1991-1992 - DeSales (football, baseball) 1990-1991 - Almira-Coulee-Hartline (football, basketball) 1986-1987 - Ephrata (football, baseball) 1986-1987 - Morton (basketball, baseball) 1984-1985 - Juanita (football, baseball) 1983-1984 - Brewster (basketball, baseball) 1980-1981 - Centralia (football, basketball) 1980-1981 - Lynden (football, basketball) 1975-1976 - Colton (football, baseball)
Do you want to explain the history reference?
Sure thing, I’ll edit the story.
What a run by coach White and his squad. Great event all weekend at Joe Martin, hopefully it’s back here next year