After several hours of rain delays the last two unbeaten teams in the 2019 NWAC Baseball Playoffs, finally squared off with a first pitch at 9:35pm on Saturday night. The last time Everett and Tacoma met was in the NWAC Championship tournament two years ago in a historical battle that lasted 15 innings, the longest in NWAC playoff history. Everett went on to win that game by a final score of 8-7 before advancing to the championship game where they took second to Lower Columbia College.
Both pitchers looked strong through the first three innings, giving up just one hit and no runs apiece. It was the Trojans that cracked the run column first in the bottom of the 4th inning. Austin Hauck led off the inning with a double and came around to score after a Kenny McCormick sacrifice fly. Then with two runners on, Nolan Smith extended the lead to 4-0 when he hit a three-run bomb.
Tacoma threatened in the top of the 5th when they loaded the bases, and looked as though they would get at least two runs when a ball was hit to shallow left center, but freshman outfielder Takeshi Kubota came charging in and made a great diving catch to end the inning and hold the Titans scoreless.
The bottom of the 5th proved to be another big inning for the Trojans led off by an Austin Hauck solo home run. Two more Trojans would reach and ultimately be driven home on a Mitch Albin triple, his second of the tournament. Another run would be tacked on to take an 8-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Paul Falco continued his dominance and finished the game, going 9 complete innings, giving up just three hits, and struck out 7.
With the 8-0 win, Everett is now the only remaining unbeaten team in the tournament and is guaranteed a spot in Monday's championship game. Everett will play a one loss Spokane team tonight where EvCC could end the Sasquatch season with a win, and put themselves in a position to be in the ultimate driver seat on Monday.
Highlights
- Nolan Smith, 3 run home run in the 4th inning
- Takeshi Kubota great diving catch to save runs and end the inning
- Austin Hauck solo home run in the bottom of the 5th to go up 5-0
- Mitch Albin triple to score two runs
- Paul Falco 9th inning strikeout
Link to tonight's game vs Spokane. 5:35pm start time