YAKIMA — The South Whidbey Falcons’ remarkable postseason run continued Friday with a 3-0 victory over Cashmere in the Class 1A state baseball semifinals.
The Falcons play Hoquiam for the championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at Yakima County Stadium.
After posting a 9-11 record in the regular season — while playing mostly against 2A schools — South Whidbey is 6-1 in the postseason.
“I know we are surpising a lot of people,” Falcons coach Tom Fallon said, “but we are not surprising ourselves.”
Pitchers Mo Hamsa and Ricky Muzzy combined to shut out Cashmere on five hits. Hamsa pitched the first 5? innings and Muzzy retired four of the five batters he faced to earn the save.
“It was pretty much the formula we have had throughout our playoff run,” Fallon said, “pitching, defense and manufacturing a few runs.”
Muzzy opened the game with a single, stole second base, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a single by Hamsa. South Whidbey added a run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Charlie Patterson, and another run in the seventh on a suicide-squeeze bunt by Connor Antich.
Cashmere (21-3) had two-on-two-out situations in the fourth and fifth innings, but could not come up with the big hit it needed. In all, the Bulldogs left nine runners on base.
“Their pitching was solid,” Cashmere coach Jeff Carlson told the Wenatchee World. “South Whidbey is a very good club and they made more plays and deserve to be in that game tomorrow.”
Fallon said he was not sure who will start on the mound against Hoquiam, though he said he expected to use a combination of Will Simms, Patterson and Muzzy.
“Right now I’m leaning toward Will Simms,” he said.
At Yakima County Stadium
South Whidbey1000011—370
Cashmere0000000—050
Mason Elliott and Bryan McNair. Mo Hamsa, Ricky Muzzy (6) and Brent Piehler. WP—Hamsa. LP—Elliott. 2B—Elliott (C), Patterson (SW), Simms (SW). Records—Cashmere 21-3. South Whidbey 15-12.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
