Kennedy Catholic Baseball Holds Off Mercer Island to Win in Extras

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April 13, 2024

Lancers over Islanders 7-6: April 11 Game Recap.

by Jake Knight Burien-News Sports Reporter. Coleman Hollabaugh led the charge for the Kennedy Catholic Lancers offense with a single, a double, a home run, and a walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring home the winning run and beat the Mercer Island Islanders 7-6 Thursday night.This game represented the last non-district game for Kennedy Catholic before a very important eight-game stretch to end the season, all against district opponents. Although it may not have the largest effect on the standings come the end of the season, a win over Mercer Island could serve as a spark of momentum before clashing against district rivals.Harvey Lieberman toed the rubber for the Lancers to start the game, a start where he was not at his sharpest. The left-hander consistently missed his fastball to the glove side, inside to right-handed batters. This led to two hit batsmen to go along with three hits and three walks over his three innings of work. Lieberman maneuvered his way out of big jams and crooked numbers, but the Islanders scored a run in each of his three frames.[caption id="attachment_16083" align="aligncenter" width="607"]

Harvey Lieberman pitches on 4/11/24 - Islanders at Lancers[/caption]Kennedy Catholic scored a run of their own in the first on a Hollabaugh double, although the double was controversial. It appeared the ball clipped the trees beyond the right-field fence before re-entering the playing field, which would have made it a two-run home run, but Hollabaugh had to settle for the RBI-double when the umpires ruled the ball hit the fence, not the tree.The baseball gods rewarded Hollabaugh the very next inning.The bottom of the order quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, and a deep flyout to center off the bat of Will Cahill brought in a run. Good fortune struck for the Lancers when a Kaipo Matsushima ground ball hit the lip where grass meets dirt in the infield and bounced clear over the shortstop’s head to bring two runs in to score.Hollabaugh proceeded to crush another flyball, this one closer to center field than right. The center fielder had a good beat on the ball, found the fence, and leaped to rob a home run, but the ball deflected off his glove and over the fence to give Hollabaugh the round-tripper he thought he had in the first. A teammate screamed, “Ball don’t lie!” as Hollabaugh entered the dugout.Coleman Hollabaugh Home Run:[videopress MRzQo6kB]At this moment, the Lancers held a comfortable 6-2 lead. But the Islanders chased Lieberman after three innings and continued to string runs together off reliever Dante Saladino until the game was eventually tied at six in the fifth inning.The Lancers stuck with Saladino on the bump which proved to be a good decision and the tall right-hander would settle in and toss scoreless sixth and seventh innings.Mercer Islanded handed the ball to Kellan Wu after Kennedy Catholic tagged starter Jaxon Aufranc for six runs on eight hits in two innings. Wu was extremely effective in long relief, holding the Lancers at bay in four straight scoreless innings heading into the seventh.With the game knotted up at six, the Lancers had the top of their order due up with a chance to walk off the game and send the Burien natives home happy. With two outs, the bases were loaded with Jesse LaBella climbing into the batter’s box.Wu left a pitch up and out over the plate for LaBella to find barrel and send a line drive into left field. The ball looked destined for grass to walk it off until left fielder James Mangold dove and caught the ball inches before it hit the surface. A brilliant grab in a moment as clutch as they come.We are headed to extra innings.After a one-out single in the top of the eighth, senior flame-thrower Tahvo Latvala came in to record the final two outs of the inning in very timely fashion, inducing a pop-out to first and a swinging strikeout on a vicious breaking ball.[caption id="attachment_16081" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

Tahvo Latvala pitches on 4/11/24 - Islanders at Lancers[/caption]Wu plunked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the inning before the next two batters grounded into fielder’s choices. The Islanders decided to bring in lefty Cole Rowe to pitch with left-handed batters Cahill and Hollabaugh representing two of the next three Lancers due up.With two outs in the inning, Rowe hit Cahill with the first pitch he threw. Matsushima then laced a single to left but hit the ball too hard to score the runner from second. Kennedy Catholic had yet another opportunity with the bases loaded to win the game, this time with Hollabaugh stepping to the dish. An intentional walk to Hollabaugh earlier in the game made it evident Mercer Island did not want to give him another chance to do damage, but the Islanders had nowhere to put the designated hitter this time up.Rowe fell behind quickly. On a 3-1 count, Rowe threw a fastball he thought caught the outside edge of the plate, but the umpire determined the pitch was outside, awarding Hollabaugh the walk and bringing in the run from third to win the game. The Lancers brought truth to the phrase, "walk-off” in their 7-6 victory.[caption id="attachment_16086" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

Mini celebration for Lancers 4/11/24 - Islanders at Lancers[/caption]The win marks the tenth of the season for Kennedy Catholic to bring their record to 10-3. Their district record is at 2-2 with eight district games remaining. The first of which is back at home Tuesday, April 16 against Kentwood, followed by a second game between the two clubs the next day at Kentwood’s home ballpark.