Ressa, Svelmoe Rescue Titans

“Cam-an now Brandon, whaddaya say we get outta this jammer and get on the bus and go on home now, whaddaya say now, kiddo?”

That’s Don Ressa-speak. Translated to English, it means: Come on now, Brandon (Svelmoe), how about getting University out of this sticky situation so we can depart these premises and go home. Can you accommodate my request?

Ressa, U-Hi’s baseball coach, and probably its most vociferous fan, urged on Svelmoe, his relief pitcher, who responded with Shadle Park threatening late in the game to give the Titans a 4-3 win and the Greater Spokane League’s No. 1 seed to the regional playoffs at Kennewick on Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Titans (13-4) beat the Highlanders (14-7) at Seafirst Stadium on Tuesday in the George Gee GSL District seeding game. The Titans face Kennewick, the Big Nine’s No. 2 seed. Shadle, the GSL’s No. 2 seed, faces Wenatchee, the Big Nine’s No. 1, at 2 p.m. at Kennewick. The winners play at 5 p.m. Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Titans led from start to finish. The Highlanders threatened at the end as they loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with no outs.

Trailing 4-1, the Highlanders cut the lead to 4-3, but reliever Svelmoe settled down and got out of trouble.

As for the rest of the Titans, a senior- dominated team, Tuesday’s win was the second step in its quest for a state qualifying berth.

“We’ve spent all summer coaching them,” Ressa said. “This team played 45 games in the summer. They’re a hard-working bunch that is dedicated to playing hard.”

The Titans were also the GSL’s regular-season champs.

“From the standpoint of coaching, I couldn’t ask for more,” Ressa added. “This team has done everything the coaching staff has asked.”

The Titans are a balanced team long on heart. That heart is evident every time U-Hi first baseman Ben Butler runs around the base paths with a plastic face-mask around his helmet.

Earlier this season against Mead, Butler suffered a shattered cheekbone when hit with a baseball going into second base to break up an attempted double play.

“The doctor did an incredible job, but what was more remarkable was the way Ben bounced right back and kept on playing,” Ressa said. “I think that served as a rallying point for us.”

Butler did the most offensive damage for U-Hi as he went 2 for 2, walked and drove in a run.

University 4, Shadle Park 3

Shadle 000 010 2 - 3 8 2 University 011 020 X - 4 4 3

Hancock, Debeaumont (2), Liezen (4), Knudsen (5), Amann (6) and Dunsmoor. Furlott, Sims (3), Spunich (5), Svelmoe (7). W-Furlott. L-Hancock.

HITS: Shadle - Ross, Wilson, Wideman, Baughn, Walters, Dunsmoor 2. University - Asan, Svelmoe, Butler 2. 2B-Wideman, Dunsmoor.

Whitman County Baseball

LaCrosse-Washtucna earned a trip to the regional playoffs in Chehalis with a 13-6 thumping of Asotin on Tuesday. Lacrosse-Washtucna pitcher Clint Ledbetter went the distance, striking out four and scattering seven hits.