Cougars fall to Redmond in 4A Kingco slugfest, 11-9

Published 2:22 pm Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Considering the starters that were on the hill for Monday night’s 4A Kingco marquee matchup between Redmond and Bothell High, the game had the makings of being a low-scoring pitcher’s duel.

With both teams looking to keep their unbeaten league records intact, however, Mustang starter Dylan Davis’ mid-90s fastball could not find the strike zone, and Redmond’s high-octane offense proved too much for Kevin McShane, who was coming off a brilliant three-hit, eight-strikeout start against Garfield, as the Cougars fell short 11-9.

Playing at the hitter-friendly Hartman Park in Redmond, which measures just 300 feet down the lines and 360 to center field, each of the Mustangs’ first six batters reached base. The early barrage included a pair of home runs by Michael Conforto and Davis, chasing McShane out of the game early after putting up a five-spot in the first.

Undaunted, the Cougars battled back, putting up seven runs in the second and third innings on just three hits, coming up with big two-out RBI base knocks and taking advantage of six walks to pull close, 9-8.

“We put ourselves in a hole,” said Bothell head coach Paul Moody. “They hit the ball so well in the first couple innings, we just didn’t get the kind of pitching we had hoped for. But our kids stuck with it, they kept battling away.”

Even after Conforto blasted his second four-bagger of the game, a long, tape-measure drive to right in the fifth, the Cougars never felt they were out of it.

They battled through Redmond’s tough bullpen, which included Gonzaga-bound Zach Abbruzza making his first appearance after posting a phenomenal 1.24 ERA last season as a starter, with Bothell’s faithful were hoping for a 7th-inning rally. Trailing 11-8, the Cougars certainly made the Mustangs sweat in the final frame.

Down to their final out, center fielder Ryan Morgan polished off a 3-for-4 night with a solo shot to left center, which made it 11-9. The next batter, Ryan Monson, sharply singled to put the tying run at the plate, but Redmond reliever T.J. Whidby and the Mustangs were able to breathe a sigh of relief after leadoff hitter Jon Mercer grounded out to end the threat.

“It’s a long game, and it’s about not giving up and staying with it,” said Moody on his team responding to adversity. “We felt good that we put up a nine-spot, but we didn’t pitch and play defense as well as we needed to.”

For Bothell, McShane and catcher Sam Lee also notched RBI base hits, and southpaw reliever Henry Baillargeon, once he got settled in, pitched well and kept the Cougars in the game, allowing just two runs in his final four innings.

While the loss drops the Cougars to 6-1 (8-3 overall) and the Mustangs became the only unbeaten team left in 4A Kingco (7-0, 10-2), Moody isn’t worried about a loss of momentum for his club, which was coming off of three shutout wins in their last four contests.

“We still have long ways to go,” noted the veteran coach. “You got some other good teams in our division, Woodinville is playing well, Inglemoor and Ballard look like they’ve been getting some wins too. We just try to take it one game at a time right now and not even worry about (the postseason).”

Redmond head coach Dan Pudwill, who recorded his 100th Kingco league victory on Monday against only 27 losses (.787), firmly believes that the two clubs will meet again come the 4A Kingco tournament in May, prep baseball’s second season.

“Bothell’s a good team,” he commended. “They’re so well-coached, and they have some talented kids over there. Come the playoffs it’s about pitching matchups, and they’re a good club.”

The Cougars play at home on Wednesday night against Issaquah (4-3, 6-7) and play again Friday on the road against No. 6 Newport (5-2, 9-3).

To view or purchase action photos from this game, visit photographer Matt Campbell’s website at http://www.sportspixs.com/041111_rhs_baseball.