ANACORTES — The Archbishop Murphy Wildcats had two teams between them and a trip to the 2A state semifinals next weekend in Yakima.
They defeated Aberdeen 9-2 on Saturday at Volunteer Field in Anacortes, but a few hours later, the Wildcats fell 17-7 to Sehome and ended their season. With the win, the Mariners finished first in the regional tournament.
“Practice is practice and these guys have practiced hard and were prepared for today,” said Sehome head coach Gary Hatch. “It was good day in Sehome baseball.”
After a scoreless first inning, Archbishop Murphy jumped to an early lead and scored six runs in the top of the second, including a line drive double to left field by catcher Alex Ash that scored two runs.
But Sehome answered in the bottom of the second by scoring seven runs, which resulted in Wildcat pitcher Jake Hanley being relieved by Dylan Healow. The Mariners took the lead with two outs, when catcher Ryan Williams (3-for-3) hit a three-RBI double to right field.
“(Sehome’s) a very good team,” said Archbishop Murphy head coach Mark Potoshink after the first game against Aberdeen. “They were ranked number one in the state for most of the year. Even though we’re the higher seed, they’re probably favored. They’re a very well coached team and they’re going to be hard to beat.”
The Mariners continued to prove how difficult they would be to beat by adding one run in the third and two in the fourth. They then came out with another big inning in the sixth when Sehome was able to seal the win with seven more runs and take a 17-6 lead.
“It isn’t over until it’s over but getting that 10-run lead was sure a nice thing to see against a very good team,” said Hatch. “Archbishop has played really good all year long and our hats are off to them.”
In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats were able to score one more run when first baseman Patrick Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Jake Hines to score.
“It was an uncharacteristic game for us,” said Potoshink. “Normally we pitch and play defense a lot better than we did today. Five errors is our season high.”
But Archbishop Murphy had substantially more success in the first game of the day against Aberdeen.
In the bottom of the third, Nolan Davis hit an RBI double to right field and Ash hit a two-RBI double to take the score to 5-2 Wildcats. Three more runners crossed home plate in the fourth and Joe Clancy (2-for-4, two RBI) scored on an Aberdeen error in the bottom of the sixth.
Pitcher Seafth Howe threw a complete game with no earned runs, eight strikeouts and only gave up three hits for Archbishop Murphy.
Aberdeen scored both their runs after errors allowed two runners on base and Jimmy Troseth hit to left center in the second inning.
“They did a good job. They played good, hard baseball,” said Aberdeen head coach William Raburg. “We just weren’t up for the challenge. We put our number one (Chad Priamos) on the mound but he just couldn’t get it done.”
At Volunteer Park
Murphy 9, Aberdeen 2
Aberdeen0200000—236
Murphy104301x—982
Priamos, Marlow (4) and Dryden. Howe and Ash. WP—Howe. LP—Priamos. 2B—Clancy (AM) 2, Ash (AM), Garbrick (AM), Stringfellow (AM). Records—Aberdeen 14-11. Archbishop Murphy 20-5.
Sehome 17, Murphy 7
Murphy0600001—765
Sehome071207x—17115
Hanley, Healow (2) and C. Robinett (4) and Ash. Long and Williams. WP—Long. LP—Healow. 2B—Ash (AM), Garbrick (AM), Long (S), Niebruegge (S), Moore (S). Records—Archbishop Murphy 20-6. Sehome not reported.
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