Freeman faces nemesis Hoquiam in State 1A baseball semifinals

The only team holding a baseball in championship weekend does not call its players Highlanders, Wildcats, Bullpups, Bears, Tigers, Knights or even the Mighty Bantams.

The biggest Spokane-area school still fighting for a state title comes from fields south of Spokane Valley, where foul balls hit out of its home field often result in teams of kids searching shoulder-to-shoulder in knee-high winter wheat.

The Freeman Scotties (21-3), who have come close the last two years to winning their first state baseball title, have another shot at the feat when they play Friday at 4 p.m. against defending 1A champion Hoquiam (14-6) in Yakima.

“Our team does a great job overcoming adversity,” Freeman coach Chad Ripke said. “We are playing hopefully to win a state championship.”

The Scotties face a Hoquiam team that returns five starters from the team that blanked Freeman 4-0 in the playoffs last year.

Ripke expects to be facing Hoquiam ace Skyler Jump, who has committed to play for Washington State. The Scotties will counter with McKabe Cottrell, who has verbally agreed to play for Gonzaga.

“He was the winning pitcher in the state championship game,” Ripke said of Jump. “He’s a solid lefty. But we’ll counter with our solid lefty. I’m hoping ours is a little more solid.”

Should the Scotties win, they would face the winner of the game between Vashon Island and Overlake/Bear Creek Saturday at 7 p.m. in Yakima for the state title.

“I’m super proud of my guys for battling and finding a way to win,” Ripke said.

Hoquiam beat Medical Lake 3-2 and Lakeside 10-4 for a chance at the rematch with the Scotties.

Freeman got this far by prevailing in a 13-inning marathon 2-1 win over Zillah; and then a tense 3-2 win over Cashmere last Saturday to advance.

In the first game, McCabe Cottrell had 22 strikeouts in 10 innings of work. But the Zillah pitcher had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning before Keegan Cottrell got a base hit. Freeman later tied the game on a sacrifice fly.

The game stayed tied into the 13th inning when JT Neely led off with a walk. Keegan Cottrell followed with a perfect bunt and the Zillah catcher overthrew first base and the ball sailed into right field. Neely scored from first base for the win.

“That was one of the best games I’ve seen in 30-plus years being around baseball,” Ripke said. “It was an intense, fun environment.”