GSL teams are thwarted in Tri-Cities

KENNEWICK – Defense and pitching remain the baseball standbys for winning championships, but if you don’t hit at all, you aren’t going to last long in the postseason.

Ferris left numerous runners in scoring position, as the Saxons fell 7-2 to Southridge and Shadle Park could hardly get anyone on base, as Richland shut out the Highlanders 5-0 at Southridge High in the Eastern Regional Tournament.

Richland beat Southridge 1-0 in the nightcap for a spot in the State 4A tournament, at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma June 3 and 4.

Shadle (17-5) came in hot after winning the District 8 4A title, but Richland junior Jeremy Stumetz ended that in a hurry.

Stumetz retired the first 10 Highlanders before Ryan Kiter and Kody Anderson came up with back-to-back singles in the top of the fourth. Stumetz induced consecutive groundballs to second to end the threat.

They represented Shadle’s only base runners, as Stumetz fired a two-hit shutout with no walks and four strikeouts, needing only 81 pitches.

“When you’re able to locate your curveball for a strike anywhere in the count, you’ll be effective,” Shadle coach Ron Brooks said of Stumetz, who kept Shadle off-balance, retiring 15 of 21 batters on groundouts. “He located his stuff well.”

Second-ranked Richland (23-2) didn’t do much offensively against Shadle starter Brian Kranches, but got the leadoff man on base four out the first five innings, and scored him every time.

In the first, Bombers speedster Sean Winston singled, stole second and third, and then scored on Kyle Conley’s groundout.

Richland added single runs in the second and fourth, and a two-run fifth inning put the game out of reach.

Kevin Chase and Winston led off with walks, and then De’Andre Wheeler’s beat out a bunt to load the bases with nobody out. Tyler Cheney hammered a long fly ball to score Chase, and then after an intentional walk to Conley to reload the bases, Tyler Thompson flied out to center, scoring Winston.

None of Richland’s runs came on base hits. They scored on a groundout, three sacrifice flies and a passed ball.

“They’re so athletic, they do a lot with their opportunities,” Brooks said. “Traditionally, they’re a strong club, they’re not ranked No. 2 in the state for no reason.”

Ferris (17-8) weathered an early storm by Southridge (17-8), the District 5/6 4A champions, but couldn’t finish the rally.

Southridge scored four runs on five hits in the first inning off Saxons starter Caleb Rath, and then scored two more in the third off Rath for an early 6-0 lead.

Ferris answered with a Pat Burke RBI double in the fourth and a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Krustangel in the fifth, but left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth against Southridge ace Chad Arnold with the tying run at the plate.

Ferris chased Arnold in the sixth, and led off the seventh with two base runners when Suns reliever Mike Morby hit Ryan Murphy and gave up a single to Bud Kittredge. Travis Mattair came on to close for Southridge and retired the heart of the Saxons’ order 1-2-3 to end the game.

“We had some opportunities,” Ferris head coach John Thacker said after the Saxons left nine runners on base. “You’ve got to step up there and hit with a lot of conviction.”