ANACORTES – In a classic pitcher’s duel, Anacortes and right-hander Kyle LaRue outlasted Archbishop Murphy and its righty, Seafth Howe, to win 1-0 in a winner-to-state 2A District 1 playoff game Tuesday at Daniels Field in Anacortes.
With Tuesday’s win, the Seahawks move on to the 2A District 1 championship game against Sehome. The championship game will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday at Daniels field.
Despite the loss, the Wildcats (11-11 overall) can still clinch a 2A state berth in a winner-to-state, loser-out game Cedarcrest at 11 a.m. Saturday at Volunteer field in Anacortes.
“They’re both good teams, so we’re going to get back to practice and be ready to bounce back Saturday,” said Archbishop Murphy head coach Bill Sieh.
Anacortes’ game-winning run came after Howe got two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh.
But, as any baseball fan will tell you, it’s the last out that’s the hardest to get.
Anacortes got a clutch two-out double by Kyle Knudsen, followed by a walk to LaRue.
It was at that point Archbishop Murphy coach Sieh consulted with his staff and decided to pull Howe in favor of reliever John-Paul Blair.
“(Howe) was getting up in his pitch count, and our staff thought it was the right call,” Swapp explained.
On Blair’s third pitch, both Seahawks’ runners took off, and batter A.J Miles chopped a bouncing ball toward shortsop.
The ball short-hopped and got behind the shortstop allowing Knudsen to round third and head for home.
There would have been a play at the plate, but the throw home sailed over catcher Nick McNaughton and ended the game.
After the game, Sieh was confident in the decision to replace Howe at that point.
“It was just one of those plays that if we had been able to make, they’d have called me a genius,” he said.
“But, it was a great ballgame and I told the guys to keep their heads up and be ready to bounce back on Saturday.”
Howe pitched 62/3 innings, gave up just four hits, struck out five and walked only one.
“(Howe) pitched a great game. He had great control of his curveball and change-up today,” said Sieh.
Anacortes’ LaRue pitched seven scoreless innings, gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out two.
Archbishop Murphy was led at the plate by Dylan Healow, who batted 2-for-3 with a double and Patrick Kelly, 3-for-3 with three singles.
Anacortes’ only multi-hit player was Bryce Darling, who batted 2-for-3 with a double.
The Wildcats best scoring chance came in the top of the sixth. Kelly led off the inning with a single that was followed by an Alex Ash single. Both runners stole a base to get into scoring position with no outs.
On the next play, Kelly was tagged out in a bang-bang play at the plate, which was followed by Ash being picked off at third to end the threat.
At Daniels Field
A. Murphy0000000-074
Anacortes0000001-142
Howe, Blair (7) and McNaughton. LaRue and Boehm. WP-LaRue. LP-Howe. 2B-Healow (AM), Knudsen (Ana), Darling (Ana). Records-A. Murphy 11-11 overall. Anacortes 17-5.
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