For the second year in a row, the Bearcats took on the Huskies in the championship game of the Richie Sexson bracket part of the Baseballism Classic. And for the second straight season, the 2A EvCo program walked away with a dominant win, this time an 11-2 verdict at the RORC in Ridgefield.
Bearcats head coach Jesse Elam left the field proud of the gameplan and the execution of his group to open the season 3-1 before league play commences on Friday at home versus Shelton.
“It is our best game so far,” Elam said. “It was a good learning experience for us. For us to go out and compete like we did, I am really proud of that.”
It was also a rematch of the 2025 state quarterfinals where Othello triumphed 14-8 in Chehalis. Ten months later and W.F. West controlled the game from the opening inning. It plated four runs in the bottom of the first and added five more in the third to lead 9-0.
Facing off against the Huskies' Quade Gonzalez, a Seattle University recruit, registered seven walks and made him exit after two-plus innings.
“Our hitters had a plan and we stuck with it,” Elam said.
Luke McMillan was the MVP of the game by going 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. On the mound, Emmett Goodman was an out away from a run-rule no-hitter, but an error kept the game going.
“He did everything we asked of him,” Elam said of McMillan. “He is a very talented baseball player.”
On Emmett: “He battled through not having his stuff. He kept going and going.”
