Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The eight-team state tournament begins for the Colton High baseball team Saturday with an elimination game vs. Sunnyside Christian at 1 p.m. in Medical Lake.
It’s a familiar opponent with surely some familiar faces. Three months ago, the two schools met in the regional round of the boys basketball playoffs with a berth to state on the line.
Sunnyside Christian were the defending state champions and Colton was on the ascent to winning this year’s title. In the process, the Wildcats took them down 67-44 in Yakima.
Colton advanced to Saturday’s matchup with a 16-0 five-inning win over Republic May 17. The game decided the No.1 and No. 2 seeds into the state regional round.
On the mound for Republic was the Panorama League Most Valuable Player Aaron Fritts.
“He had good stuff…” said Colton coach Pat Doumit. “But our guys were right on him.”
Colton scored six runs in the second inning and owned the game the rest of the way.
Dalton Patchen pitched all five innings to give up two hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
In his second year of high school baseball, the senior holds a 5-1 pitching record.
“This year Dalton’s been nothing short of one of the best players in the league,” Doumit said. “He’s a guy who wants the baseball.”
At the plate for Colton, Austin Meyer went 3 for 5 with three RBIs while Carter Dahmen went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, Straughan 3 for 4 and Levi Weber 2 for 4 with four RBIs.
On Saturday at Medical Lake High School, if Colton beats Sunnyside Christian they advance to play the winner of Republic and Liberty Christian in the state quarterfinals.
Patchen is set to pitch the opening game Saturday. If the Wildcats are still alive for a second, Straughan will take the mound.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)