After defeating Ocosta by run-rule, 13-3, in a loser-out contest, the Napavine baseball team came all the way back to tie Ilwaco in the 2B District 4 quarterfinals Saturday afternoon in Ilwaco after scoring all five of their runs in the seventh.
But disaster struck in the bottom of the seventh, with the Fishermen walking off the Tigers with a grand slam to score four runs and propel the home team to the district semis.
The Tigers will now have to fight their way through the consolation round to try and reach the state tournament.
“I’m really proud of our kids today,” Napavine coach Brian Demarest said. “They played with a lot of heart and a lot of passion. Game 2 didn’t come out in our favor but we battled.”
In the first contest, a 13-3, six inning win over Ocosta, Ashton Demarest pitched the first two innings, giving up two hits and three walks but no runs with two strikeouts. Hudson Chambers pitched the final four innings and gave up all three runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts on the bump.
Austin Chapman went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBIs, Lane Mitchell went 2 for 3 with three RBIs on a pair of doubles, and Demarest went a perfect 3 for 3 with three runs scored with two doubles.
In the second contest against Ilwaco, Demarest started again and pitched four innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with one strikeout. Cal Bullock pitched an inning of relief, giving up two runs on three hits, and Conner Holmes ran into trouble in the seventh in the final inning, allowing three hits, with three of the four runs earned against him with two walks as well.
Holmes went 2 for 4 at the plate at leadoff with a run scored, Bullock went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, Chapman continued his hot day going 2 for 4, and Beckett Landram went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Tigers will now take on Forks in a loser-out consolation quarterfinal in Napavine Tuesday at 2 p.m.
