Rally to defeat Lakeside, fall in pitcher's duel versus Freeman
Medical Lake's Tyler Munden slides into third trying to stretch a double into a triple. Munden was out, but not before he drove in three runs with the key hit.
Playing with their backs to the wall is something the Medical Lake baseball team has found to be second nature.
And finding ways to win has also become pretty much the norm for the Cardinals (17-4), who earned a No. 2 seed at the state 1A tournament berth following a 5-2 win at home May 11 versus Lakeside before falling to Freeman 4-0 in the district title game, May 14.
Rallying from an early 2-0 deficit, thanks to a second-inning, two-run home run by Lakside's Tristen Cox off of starter Cory Wagner, the Cardinals got a huge fifth inning where they scored four runs and earned the rematch with Freeman.
"He pitched a great game," Kelly said of Wagner, who then settled down to limit the Eagles to just three hits. Wagner also struck out 10 and went the distance to earn the win.
Down to their final nine outs, Kelly said he was a little concerned. "But I have learned not to worry with this team," Kelly said. "They don't worry, for one, and they typically find a way to come back."
That comeback was orchestrated by Tyler Munden, who came up with a huge bases-loaded double that produced three RBIs. He got thrown out trying to extend it to a triple, but Kelly said he will trade an out for three runs any day of the week.
Kelly said he's extremely happy for Munden, a kid who has been in the Medical Lake program for years. "He's had some tough luck, he's hit the ball where he hasn't been rewarded," Kelly said.
"What a huge, huge hit that was for him, the biggest hit of his life," he added. Other than Munden, Wagner and Cole Soliday were the only ones to hit safely. Wagner also doubled.
Against Freeman (19-3) in a battle for the Northeast A League's No. 1 seed, the Cardinals faced an incredibly tough pitcher.
"We had a few runners on as far as second base, but McCabe Cottrel is just the best pitcher we've seen all year," Kelly said. Cottrell struck out 12 and gave up just one hit, a single to Brayden Hale.
Cottrell "was better than I've seen him," Kelly said. "He's always been real good but he was exceptional on Saturday."
But so was Kelly's choice on the mound that day, Hale. He gave up three hits, but was hurt by four errors. "In a perfect world we still lose 1-0," Kelly said.
Pitching will be the key as the Cardinals move into the playoffs and Kelly likes the fact that he has a fresh arm with Wagner to go against Hoquiam, May 21. But with Hale as his second guy, Kelly said he has all the confidence in the world that his team can make it to the final-four May 27 at County Stadium in Yakima.
"I'll put our one against anybody's one and our two (Hale), I just think we have the pitching," Kelly said.
Hale is a top pitcher who unfortunately works in the shadows of Wagner. Hale's usual role is at shortstop where he also excels. Kelly added, "I like Cole Soliday to come in and clean some things up."
Kelly knows little about his Saturday opponent, other than, "I understand they have a left-hander who throws in the 80s (miles-per-hour) and I would assume we see him."
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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