SEATTLE — As the final strike slammed into catcher Tom Chandler’s glove the celebrations began, gloves flying into the air before a mob scene developed next to the pitcher’s mound.
The Snohomish High School baseball team had been waiting an entire year for this.
Denied at the finish line a year ago, the Panthers redeemed themselves by claiming the class 4A state championship Saturday with a 10-1 victory over the Kentlake Falcons at Safeco Field.
“It feels wonderful,” said senior designated hitter Ethan Hargrave, whose three-run homer in the third broke the game open. “It feels like we finally got it.”
Last year Snohomish had its chance at the state title, only to be left watching Richland parade the trophy around Safeco Field after a 7-3 defeat in the title contest.
But this time the Panthers won in style. Snohomish’s offense teed off to the tune of 12 hits, punctuated by home runs from Hargrave and senior Derek Jones; senior Aaron West pitched a masterful game, tossing a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts; and once again the defense was stellar as the Panthers left no doubt about the outcome.
“It feels great,” West said. “To win by teammwork and everything is amazing. We all worked together and it was the best game we’ve played in four years.
“It definitely makes up for last year,” West added. “This is what we’ve been waiting for for three, four years.”
Snohomish’s offense, which was stagnant during a 3-2 victory in the semifinals Friday against Olympia, ran rampant Saturday. Just about every ball put into play by the Panthers was hit on the nose. Jones and Brian Wolfe each had three hits, and every Snohomish starter reached base at least once.
That was more than enough support for West. The right-hander escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the first, then dominated the rest of the way, using his breaking ball to befuddle the Kentlake bats. His only blemish came in the fourth when he gave up a solo home run to Miles Nagel, and he struck out the final five Kentlake batters.
“I was a little off the first couple innings, but then I went back to basics,” West said. “Throw strikes and let defense take care of it.”
The title was the second in Snohomish school history. The Panthers also won the title in 1998. Snohomish finished the season 23-5.
“Guess what we got tonight,” said Snohomiah coach Kim Hammons, holding the WIAA Just Play Fair pin. “We got a state championship and we got the sportsmanship award, and we just got in a fight last night (laughing). How do you like that, huh?”
Kentlake finished its season 21-5.
“That’s a good ball club,” Kentlake coach Jason Evans said about the Panthers. “Those guys have been here several times. We watched them play last night, and they played really well. … They came out and they just hit the ball.”
After the teams jockeyed for position without scoring in the first two innings, the Panthers erupted in the third, bringing five runs around to take a firm grip on the game.
The rally began when Wolfe ripped a triple to center, scoring Braden Allen with the game’s first run. Chandler followed by grounding a single through a drawn-in infield to make it 2-0.
After a walk, Hargrave stepped up and launched a line drive into the bullpen beyond the left-field wall for a three-run shot, giving Snohomish a 5-0 advantage.
The homer, which came on a curveball, was Hargrave’s first of the season.
“I just swung as hard as I could,” Hargrave said. “I was seeing the ball well today and I just cranked on it.
“Running around those bases was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
After Nagel got one run back for Kentlake in the top of the fourth, Snohomish extended its lead in the bottom half. Consecutive singles leading off the inning by Allen, Jones and Wolfe brought home one run, then Wolfe scored on a wild pitch, making it 7-1.
The Panthers turned it into a rout in the fifth. Allen’s sacrifice fly brought in one run, then Jones blasted a two-run shot to right, providing the final margin.
At Safeco Field
Kentlake0001000— 121
Snohomish005230x—10122
Doug Christie, Tyler Walsh (4), Andy Enders (5), and Marcus Evans; Aaron West and Tom Chandler. WP—West (7-0). LP—Christie (3-4). 2B—Derek Jones, S. 3B—Brian Wolfe, S. HR—Ethan Hargrave, S, 3-run in 3rd, Miles Nagel, KL, solo in 4th, Jones, S, 2-run in 5th. Records—Snohomish 23-5, Kentlake 21-5.
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