TACOMA — After rallying in the top of the seventh, the Glacier Peak baseball team was one strike away from its first-ever state-tournament win.
But with one swing of the bat, Chiawana dealt the Grizzlies a crushing blow that ended their season in heartbreak.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Brayde Hirai crushed a 1-2 pitch over the right fielder’s head for a walk-off, two-run double that lifted Chiawana to a 4-3 win over Glacier Peak in a 4A state regional Saturday at Heidelberg Park.
The walk-off finish capped a wild seventh inning.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, the Grizzlies (15-8) drew two walks to put runners on first and second with one out. Glacier Peak senior Ryan Ober, an Oregon State University signee, then lined a two-run double to the left-center-field fence to give the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead.
“We’ve done that several times during the course of the year,” Glacier Peak coach Bob Blair said of his team’s late rally. “So we knew until the last out (that) we were still in things.
“And we couldn’t ask for a better guy to be up in that situation. Ryan’s come through clutch for us for four years. He’s been the heart and soul of this team for a long time. We’re going to miss him.”
Chiawana (17-9) answered with a rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on the corners to set up Hirai’s walk-off heroics. Hirai also delivered a strong start on the mound, limiting Glacier Peak to one run in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
The Grizzlies chipped into Chiawana’s 2-0 lead in the sixth inning, loading the bases and scoring on a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game heading into the seesaw seventh.
Glacier Peak was making its fifth state-tournament appearance in the last seven years. The Grizzlies, who will bid farewell to 18 seniors, claimed a share of the Wesco 4A title this spring in their first season since moving up from the 3A classification.
“When they came in as freshmen, we (coaches) … turned to each other and we knew they were a special group,” said Blair, who got teary-eyed when talking about his senior class. “Just a really good group of kids.”
Sumner 8, Lake Stevens 3
PUYALLUP — The Lake Stevens baseball team’s postseason run came to an end with a loss to Sumner in a 4A state regional Saturday at Heritage Park.
Sumner (17-8) broke open the game with a six-run fourth inning, which Alex Fraser capped by pulling a two-out grand slam over the right-field fence to give the Spartans a commanding 7-0 lead.
Sumner’s Gabe Smith needed only 79 pitches to toss a complete-game four-hitter. The side-armed hurler limited the Vikings (14-10) to no runs and two hits through the first five innings.
After finishing fifth in Wesco 4A with a 7-7 conference record, Lake Stevens won three consecutive postseason games over Monroe, Mount Vernon and Glacier Peak to claim the District 1 title and advance to state for the fifth time in the last six years.
“These guys don’t have anything to hang their head about,” said first-year Vikings coach Josh White, who previously coached the junior-varsity team. “They came from an OK regular season and made it count (in the postseason).”
Lakeside 2, Shorewood 1
UNIVERSITY PLACE — Zander Bailey’s solo home run in the top of the seventh inning was the difference, as the Lions eliminated the Thunderbirds in the first round of the 3A state tournament Saturday at Curtis H.S.
Shorewood (17-7) opened the scoring with a Texas Leaguer in the bottom of the fifth after a single and a double by the Thunderbirds placed runners in scoring position.
The Lions (18-5) tied the game in the top of the sixth after a double, a bunt and an error.
Cedar Park Christian 6, Castle Rock 3
ANACORTES — Josiah Sergeant went 2-3 with a double and drove in two runs to lead the Eagles past the Rockets in a first-round state tournament game Saturday at Daniels Field.
Jack Flynn also drove in two runs and notched a double for the The Eagles (22-2). Flynn, who started on the mound, struck out 10 in 52⁄3 innings.
Cedar Park Christian 5, Seattle Christian 2
ANACORTES — Michael Attalah homered twice while driving in three runs to help boost the Eagles in a 1A state quarterfinal Saturday.
Attalah also fanned 10 in 52⁄3 innings for the Eagles (23-2) who advance to face Freeman in a semifinal game on Friday at County Stadium in Yakima.
Zach Cokos also drove in a run while going 2-4 at the plate for the Eagles.
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