Cougars advance to state

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, May 14, 2005

GRANITE FALLS – In this movie, Ryan Martin was the leading man, but he was in no shortage of supporting actors as the Lakewood Cougars punched a ticket to Yakima and the 2A state baseball tournament with a 10-0 whitewashing of Meridian in the 2A District 1 baseball tournament Saturday afternoon.

The sophomore hurler struck out eight and didn’t allow a walk over five innings, and had all the help he needed from a potent Cougar offense.

In the third inning, Jake Rife crushed a 380-foot home run over the right center-field fence to put Lakewood on the board. He was followed two innings later when senior Jacob Bruns’ seventh home run of the year gave Martin a five run cushion.

Lakewood now faces Whatcom County Conference’s top team, Blaine, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sherman Anderson field in Mount Vernon.

As a former member of the WCC, Lakewood coach Larry Delaney has seen the Borderites up close and personal.

“They got through the season undefeated, but we’re comfortable playing them. If we do what we’re capable of with our offense and pitching, I think we’re a pretty tough team to handle,” Delaney said.

Lakewood finished with fourteen hits in less than five innings, giving Delaney even more optimism. “We faced two of our toughest opponents today and if we can maintain for another week or two, who knows?”

At Granite Falls

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Norris, Herman (3), Heslep (6) and Tiffany. Martin and Wammack. WP-Martin. LP-Norris. 2B-Anderson (M), J. Slesk (M), Black (M), Rife (L), Wammack (L), Morton (L). HR-Rife (L), Bruns (L). Records-Lakewood 18-4.

Lakewood 3, Nooksack Valley 1: Cougar hurler Brandon Stauffer tossed a five-hitter, and Tracy Wammack drove in Jake Rife on two separate occasions to lead Lakewood to the opening round victory.

At Granite Falls

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O’Day and Lohrer. Stauffer and Wammack. WP-Stauffer. LP-O’Day. 2B-Rife (L). Records-Lakewood 17-4 overall.

Blaine 4, Granite Falls 2: Kyle Dhanani had a clutch fifth-inning two-RBI single as the Borderites advanced to state with the victory. Granite Falls takes on Archbishop Murphy at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Sherman Anderson field in a loser-out game.

At Blaine

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Fowler and Kalma. Paciorek and Johnson. WP-Paciorek. LP-Fowler. HR-Bleeker (B), Peden (G). Records-Granite Falls 12-8 overall.

Granite Falls 11, Mount Baker 0: Starter Jake Peden no-hit the Mountaineers and faced only one batter over the limit as Granite Falls won the 2A District 1 opening round game.

At Blaine

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Graham, Williamson (2) and Gates. Peden and Kalma. WP-Peden. LP-Graham. 2B-Knudson (G), Kalma (G), Whitt (G), Peden (G). Records-Granite Falls 12-7 overall.

Mt. Baker 5, Sultan 4 (10 innings): Guy Gates’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning ended the season for the Turks in a heartbreaking 2A District 1 loser-out game.

At Blaine

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Cogger, Ruddock (1) and Webster. Murray and Gates. WP-Murray. LP-Ruddock. 2B-Carson (M), Backstrom (M), Brown (S), Morgan (S). HR-Welch (S). Records-Sultan 2-18 overall.

Blaine 9, Sultan 0: Ryan Bleeker fanned nine for the Borderites in 2A District 1 action.

At Blaine

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McCrorey, Nuyen (6) and Webster. Bleeker and Johnson. WP-Bleeker. LP-McCrorey. 2B-Dhanani (B). Records-Sultan 2-17.

Sedro-Woolley 12, Lynnwood 2: Lynnwood’s Steven Gruel finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, but the Royals lost the opening round game in the 3A District 1 baseball tournament. Lynnwood will face Ferndale at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Field in a loser-out game.

At Daniels Field, Anacortes

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Scheaffer, King (4) and Gruel. O’Conner and Johnson. WP-O’Conner. LP-Scheaffer (0-3). 2B-Moffett (SW). 3B-Moffett (SW), Harris (SW) name. HR-Long (SW). Records-Lynnwood 1-21.

Bellingham 10, Shorecrest 9: Pierce Rankin was 3-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI, but the Scots lost the 3A District 1 opening round game. Shorecrest will play Squalicum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Volunteer Park in Anacortes in a loser-out game.

At Volunteer Park, Anacortes

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WP-McIntosh. LP-Rankin. 2B-McIntosh (B), P. Rankin (S) 3. Records-Shorecrest 7-14.