High School Baseball: Kelso eliminated by Eastside Catholic in extra inning State opener
PHOTO GALLERY — Hilanders watch late lead evaporate in season-capping 6-3 loss to Crusaders
Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com
3A WIAA Baseball / Report
RISTER STADIUM — Standing just six outs away from a date in the second round of the 3A State Tournament, the Kelso baseball team watched it unravel in the blink of an eye in front of the home fans.
Behind another gritty outing from senior ace Bryce Collins, an electric crowd that rattled the bleachers inning after inning, and a dugout that never stopped chirping and bouncing, No. 16 ranked Kelso carried a one-run lead into the seventh inning of a loser-out State showdown against No. 17 Eastside Catholic.
Then everything flipped.
After surviving a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, the Crusaders tied the game moments later on a slow-rolling bunt that slipped untouched into the grass between first and second before erupting for three runs in the eighth inning and holding on to eliminate the Hilanders with a 6-3 decision.
The Crusaders poured over the railing the moment Collins’ fly ball settled into center fielder Kobe Reese’s glove for the final out, sprinting out of the dugout in celebration while Kelso players stood silently across the diamond, wondering what happened.
As it turns out, the Scots ran headlong into a suddenly unstoppable foe.
“This group just never gives up,” Eastside Catholic coach Kyle Larsen said. “We had to play four loser-out games last week in six days, and they just keep battling. They’re resilient, they’re fun to watch, and they’re really coming together at the right time.”
For most of the night, though, Kelso controlled the game.
Rain fell briefly early before giving way to loud, emotional playoff baseball as both fanbases packed the stands and rattled the bleachers inning after inning while momentum slowly tightened around the field.
Behind Collins, the Hilanders grabbed early control and looked poised to advance in the State bracket.
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