Nineteen Years Later, Kelso Gets Revenge On Wenatchee

The Kelso Hilanders and Wenatchee Panthers had been in this position before.

In 1976, the last time either team was at the State AAA baseball tournament, the Hilanders and Panthers squared off in the semifinals with Wenatchee earning the victory by no-hitting Kelso.

Nineteen years later, the two teams met for the 1995 championship. And unlike last time, Kelso found its bats and picked up its first state baseball title with an 8-4 win over the Panthers Saturday at Seafirst Stadium.

“I’m elated and as happy as can be,” Hilander coach Tom Adams said. “I’m so happy with the kids because they stayed focused.”

Earlier in the day, the Newport Knights outdueled the Kentwood Conquerors 6-5 to capture third-place.

In the championship matchup, Kelso put the game out of reach early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Brice Richards’ bases-clearing double to make it 5-0. Richards eventually scored on a passed ball. He finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and scored three times.

From there, Hilander pitcher Brian Graham took control. Graham went the distance, striking out seven while walking two.

Graham got the Hilanders out of trouble twice. In the first, he struck out Colin Hill and got Rob Cannon to ground out to get out of a bases-loaded jam. And in the fifth, he retired three straight batters, despite having the bases loaded with no outs.

“I felt good about leaving him on the mound,” Adams said. “Brian pitches good when we have the lead.”

Wenatchee pitcher Matt Hampton also pitched well after settling down, striking out six.

Kelso finished the season winning 16 straight games after a 5-6 start.

“It’s a great group of kids,” Adams said. “They compete really well and battle.”

In the consolation game, Newport fought off a seventh-inning Kentwood rally.

With Newport leading 6-5, Kentwood loaded the bases with two outs, but Ryan Percosky was thrown out at home plate to end the game.

Kentwood jumped to a 2-0 lead after one inning, but the Knights answered with two runs in the second, two in the third and two in the fourth and held a 6-4 lead.

Kentwood scored its fifth run in the seventh for the final margin.

“We didn’t play well,” Newport coach Bob Albo said. “But our motto is third is better than fourth.”

Lee Evans went the distance for the win, despite a sore back sustained earlier this week in the State AAA golf tournament. Bryan Dow took the loss.