4A baseball: Central Valley, Gonzaga Prep lose

Trailing 3-1 and down to their final at-bats, the Richland Bombers scored seven runs in the seventh inning to beat host Central Valley 8-3 Friday in a 4A regional baseball game.

The Bears’ loss, combined with Gonzaga Prep’s 2-1 loss Friday to Walla Walla, means that the Greater Spokane League co-champions will meet for the fourth time Saturday at noon in a loser-out game with the winner advancing to the state playoffs next weekend in Wenatchee.

On Friday, the Bears (17-4) fell behind 1-0 in the first inning thanks to a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a RBI ground out. But they rallied to take a 2-1 lead in bottom of the fourth inning after Kyle Lawson got a base hit to right field and later scored on a passed ball. Noah Van Etten then hit a grounder that was mishandled by the Richland second basemen that allowed Jeremy Yelland to score.

The Bears added a third run in the bottom of the sixth when Brayden Hamilton singled to score Lawson.

“We played good for six innings,” coach Mike Amend said. “Then it was a meltdown.”

After pitching six sharp innings, Connor DeGeest lost the control that had kept Richland in check. Amend pulled DeGeest after he gave up a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-2.

Alex Josquin then gave up a bases-loaded double to Richland’s Adam Weisseutels and the rout was on.

“We took advantage of a couple mistakes. But, we had some great at-bats in the seventh inning,” Richland coach Grant Richardson said. “We kind of caught them on their heels.”

Richland (15-10) travels to Walla Walla (16-7) to play on Saturday with both teams advancing to state.

Walla Walla 2, Gonazaga Prep 1: In Walla Walla, Gonzaga Prep coach Brian Munhall started pitcher Seth Kuykendall, who was pitching with a 1-1 tie into the bottom of the sixth inning.

With the bases loaded, a Walla Walla batter hit a grounder and the Bullpups got a force at home. But the catcher’s throw to first base was wild and it allowed the winning run to score.

Munhall said he will start Connor Coballes (17-6) against Central Valley. The Bears beat Gonzaga Prep in all three meetings this season.

“You can have the first three” games,” Munhall said. “But we’ll take (Saturday) if we play well. We’ll see who’s tougher. It all comes down to that.”