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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mt. Spokane wins to make it to State 3A baseball round of 16

Just nine days after Shadle Park shut out Mt. Spokane 1-0 to force the Wildcats to win their way to state the hard way, the Wildcats got their revenge Monday with a 9-3 victory that sends them to the 3A regional playoff round of 16.

The Wildcats edged Kennewick 6-5 on Saturday in a loser-out game that coach Alex Schuerman said was one of the best wins in program history. Schuerman then threw senior Stephen Streltzoff at the Highlanders on Monday and the lankly lefty had it going.

Streltzoff had a no-hitter after five innings with nine strikeouts when Schuerman pulled him after 94 pitches.

“We’ve got to be ready for the state playoffs,” Streltzoff said. “But it’s a little disappointing not to finish” the no-hitter.

The loss ended the season for Shadle Park (12-12), but coach Ron Brooks got every ounce out of the team that had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday against Southridge in what turned out to be a 3-2 loss.

“They gave it their all,” Brooks said. “I told the team, ‘remember the highs and flush the lows.’

“Just over a week ago, the emotions were on the other side of the field” after Shadle beat Mt. Spokane.

The Wildcats (19-4) now prepare for a matchup on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Whitworth University against Columbia River of Vancouver. The winner of that game plays the winner of Mercer Island and Southridge on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Whitworth.

But to get to state, the Wildcats first had to beat Shadle Park.

Mt. Spokane got started early when Matthew Pulliam smashed a double to right field that scored Jared Bell. Kyle Shuey got an infield basehit in which the throw got away from the Highlanders’ first baseman. Pulliam, the Greater Spokane League’s co-MVP, raced home and beat the throw to give Mt. Spokane a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats then added five runs in the second inning off Shadle Park starter Matt Keenan. In the inning, Pulliam smacked his second double of the game and knocked in Bell and Cooper Smith.

“It’s nice having that run support,” Streltzoff said. “It gave me a lot more confidence. It allowed me to just pitch my game and not worry.”

Schuerman pulled Streltzoff and put in Braden Mau who immediately gave up a single to Dalen Hainline. Darren Dawson later doubled to score Hainline and Ryan Deffe got an infield hit to score Dawson.

The Highlanders added one run in the bottom of the seventh inning but they couldn’t close the gap.

“We kind of made it to state the hard way,” Schuerman said. “But the boys kept finding ways to win.”

District 7 1A

Colton Vining pitched six innings and struck out five for the win as Colville defeated Deer Park 3-2 at Medical Lake.

The Indians take the Northeast A League’s second seed to regionals and will play Cashmere at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Dan White Field in Wenatchee.

Ben Knight drove in two runs for Colville and pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the save. Tharon Tayor and Trevor Amann had two hits apiece for Deer Park.

Also from the Northeast A League, Freeman is the No. 1 seed to regionals and will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Larson Field in Moses Lake.

The Scotties will play the winner of today’s game between Naches Valley and Zillah.