MILL CREEK — A two-out triple by senior Alex Kiel in the bottom of the fifth inning drove in two and gave the Jackson baseball team the victory over Kamiak in a Wesco 4A South league contest on Tuesday.
After Knights starter KeVaughn Escobar-Umayam retired the first batter of the fifth, Jackson loaded the bases with three straight walks. A sacrifice fly cut the deficit to one before Kiel’s line drive down the left-field line gave the Timberwolves the lead for the first time.
“I feel really good when he is at the plate,” Jackson head coach Kirk Nicholson said of Kiel. “I like seeing him come to the plate anytime. With guys in scoring position, he’s sitting dead red.”
Tyler Wingert earned the victory on the mound for the Timberwolves, allowing four runs over five innings and not giving up a walk. Steven Ainsworth pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.
“We want to pitch to contact, that’s our key,” Nicholson said. “They did a nice job hitting, but if you throw strikes it’s a lot easier to get outs.”
Kiel finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double to go along with his game-deciding triple. Escobar-Umayam hit a double, the only extra base hit for the Knights.
The Timberwolves improve to 2-0 in Wesco 4A South play and 4-2 overall with Tuesday’s win. The Knights fall to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.
“Its a big win,” Nicholson said. “When we play each other its always a close game.”
At Jackson H.S.
Kamiak0003100—472
Jackson000230x—561
KeVaughn Escobar-Umayam and Jacob Long. Tyler Wingert, Steven Ainsworth (6) and Alex Kiel. WP—Wingert (2-0). LP—Escobar-Umayam (2-2). 2B—Escobar-Umayam (K), Kiel (J). 3B—Kiel (J). Records—Jackson 2-0 league, 4-2 overall. Kamiak 1-1, 3-4.
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