Budnick batters Knights

Published 12:01 am Thursday, April 14, 2011

LYNNWOOD — A year ago the Edmonds-Woodway baseball coaches wouldn’t let Ryan Budnick bat against Kamiak, replacing the then-sophomore pitcher with a designated hitter.

This week Budnick’s bat has made up for lost time against the Knights. After hitting a game-winning grand slam against Kamia

k Tuesday, Budnick batted 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI to lead the Warriors to a 10-3 victory Wednesday night at Edmonds Community College.

“I didn’t get to hit against them last year,” Budnick said. “I guess I wanted to make up for it.”

The win gives Edmonds-Woodway (6-2 league, 9-2 overall) a two-game edge over the Knights (4-4, 8-4) for second place in the Wesco South standings and keeps the Warriors undefeated against teams not named Jackson.

Though Budnick’s hitting and a flock of doubles — the Warriors hit seven on the night — stood out more than the rainbow that crept over the center field scoreboard for much of the game, Budnick’s arm was just as strong as the Warrior offense.

The right-hander tossed his first complete game of the season to improve his record to 4-1. He scattered seven hits and three walks, striking out three.

Jacob Bettencourt was the only Knight to manage more than a single against Budnick. The Kamiak center fielder batted 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

“I was really hitting my spots today,” Budnick said. “Both my curveball and fastball were good on location. I was just comfortable on the mound.”

Edmonds-Woodway scored four runs in the bottom of the first and Budnick never looked rattled the rest of the game.

Warriors coach Dan Somoza was impressed with his starter.

“He threw strikes and he competed,” the E-W coach said.

Alex Hull led off the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk from Kamiak starter Andy Crosby (0-1). Ben Roquet followed with one of his two doubles to put runners on second and third. Roquet batted 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base.

Entering the game No. 3 hitter Austin Jones was hitting .557 and he improved that average with a pair of hits to go with a pair of walks in four plate appearances. Jones’ first-inning single scored Hull and Budnick’s ensuing single scored Roquet. Pat Bernard reached on an error, but drove in Jones to make it 3-0.

After a strikeout, Bryce Mezich doubled, scoring Budnick’s courtesy runner Matt Kennelly.

Crosby gave up six runs on eight hits and fanned three in three innings in his first start of the year.

Kamiak coach Steve Merkeley could only shake his head after the game at the Warriors’ hitting display.

“They hit the ball,” Merkeley said. “They really hit the ball. They are a good hitting team. … He was up with his pitches and they mashed him.”

The teams battled the elements, including a brief hailstorm that caused a delay that was just long enough to get the players off the field as well as a lone lightning bolt and single thunderclap.

Nothing was going to slow down the Warriors, who believe they are getting stronger and can challenge Jackson, which beat Mariner Wednesday and retains a one-game lead over the Warriors, for first place in the league.

“We are happy but we could be playing a lot better,” Budnick said. “Those are two bad games (we lost to Jackson). We didn’t hit the ball. We are not satisfied. We can play better.”

The two league-leading teams are scheduled to finish their season series in two weeks with a pair of midweek games that will likely go a long way in deciding the Wesco South crown.

At Edmonds Community College

Kamiak 000 300 0–3 7 2

Edmonds-Woodway 402 202 x–10 13 0

Andy Crosby, Nate Rizotti (4), Chris Soloski (6) and Alex Schmidt. Ryan Budnick and Cody Edwards. WP–R. Budnick (4-1). LP–Crosby (0-1). 2B–Jacob Bettencourt (K) 1, Ben Roquet (E) 2, Austin Jones (E) 1, R. Budnick (E) 2, Pat Bernard (E) 1, Bryce Mezich (E) 1. Records–Kamiak 4-4 league, 8-4 overall. Edmonds-Woodway 6-2, 9-2.