Shorewood wins WesCo 3A playoff game with a walk off run

2019 with new banner from 13 seniors on team and families
Photo by Lisa Hirohata

By Aimee Mainwaring

Playing under sunny skies and with the new banner hanging in left field saying ”Welcome to the Birdcage,” Shorewood Thunderbirds' baseball got the win in Saturday’s game against the Snohomish Panthers.

The banner was a gift from the 13 seniors and their families on this year's varsity team. It honors the nickname of their home baseball field at Meridian Park.

Senior Grady Hampton gets a lead off the bag
Photo by Lisa Hirohata

The matchup started off at a fast pace as the visitors scored one run in the top of the first inning. The home team quickly answered back to tie it up in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Sam Mainwaring reached first base on an error, then stole second and third base. Two outs later, senior Kevin Hirohata came to the plate and belted a triple to the gap in right center field. The hard hit ball tied the game back up at 1-1.

Senior Kevin Hirohata celebrates a hit with Coach Wyatt Tonkin
Photo by Lisa Hirohata

From there it became a pitching duel pitting the home team’s junior Bryce Lindberg against the visitor's Davis Buckner. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lindberg scored on a single by senior Simon Shutts. Snohomish answered back in the top of the 5th with a run, and the score was even again, 2-2.

Finally, in the bottom of the 7th, senior Kaden Graves got on base on a fly ball that popped out of the right fielder’s glove. Senior Grady Hampton battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a two-out walk.

Players celebrate the victory
Photo by Lisa Hirohata

 

The visitors intentionally walked the next batter, Mainwaring, with two-on and two-out. With the bases loaded, and senior Cameron Highet at the plate, Graves scored the final run of the game on a passed ball for a 2-3 T-bird victory!

Shorewood will play Arlington in the WesCo 3A semi-finals at Everett Memorial Stadium, 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201 on Tuesday, May 7th at 3:30pm.