Behind Cody Strawn’s gem on the mound, and two RBIs on top of that performance, the Tenino baseball team defeated Seton Catholic in the first round of the 1A District Tournament Monday at Hoquiam High School, 4-1.
The 1A Evergreen’s No. 2 seed, the Beavers got behind early, after some errors got the Trico’s No. 3 seed Cougars on the board in the first inning.
After that, Strawn was dominant. The pitcher allowed just four hits all game, struck out seven, and walked just three in a strong showing on the mound. He rarely ran into trouble on defense after that, letting the Beavers get back into it in the fifth inning.
After a Kaden Sayamnet single and a hit batter, Brody Noonan crushed a single on a line drive to score Sayamnet, and Strawn stepped up and doubled in the very next at bat to score both Will Feltus and Noonan to give the Beavers their first lead.
The Beavs added one more insurance run in the sixth, but Strawn got two quick outs before Noonan relieved him for one more strikeout to slam the door in the seventh.
The win means Tenino will take on league rival Elma in the district semifinals Tuesday at Hoquiam. The Eagles are the only team the Beavers couldn’t best in a three-game series in league play, falling in two of three matchups.
