Everett, WA - The Trojans caught fire behind the plate in the four game series against Douglas College taking all four games by a combined run total of 48-7.
The first game of the series up in Surrey, BC was the closest of the four, with the Trojans ultimately prevailing 5-1. After four scoreless innings, a Ben Steck triple drove in two runs in the 5th, but Douglas responded with a run of their own in the bottom inning, and heading into the 7th it was a one run game. Ben Steck came through again with a timely single to drive in another run and extend the Trojan lead in the top of the 7th and then in the 8th it would be Braeden Terry with a single to drive in two more runs and put game one of the series on ice. On the mound, Kenji Miller went 7 full innings giving up just the one run and striking out 7. Kevin Brinton finished the game giving up just two hits and getting a couple of strikeouts.
The doors were completlely blown off in the second game, as Everett came away with their largest victory of the year, winning 19-0. All of those runs were manufactured on just 8 hits, but patience at the plate drew a total of 14 walks to get runners aboard. Drew Biggerstaff led that effort, getting a free pass 3 times. Four runs were scored quickly to set the tone in the first inning with a two-run Cameron Green double followed by a two run home run by Jordan Justice, his 2nd of the year. Konnor Palmeira led the way with 4 RBI's, three of which coming from a bases clearing double. Four Trojan pitchers held Douglas scoreless, started by Jacob Sesso who went 4 innings and allowed just 2 hits, the only two hits of the game. Out of the pen it was McBride, Gut, and Willis who each threw an inning and combined for five strikeouts.
The home half of the series would actually take place at Bellevue College as the Everett Aqua Sox occupied Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium over the entirety of the weekend. The change in fields would not ultimately matter as the Trojans came away with two wins of 15-5 and 9-1.
Douglas put up a couple of runs in the visiting half of the first inning, but starting pitcher Dylan Matsuoka was able to shake it off and go four shut out innings after that to get through five complete. The Trojans used two big innings scoring 7 in the 2nd and five in the fifth to take control of the game. Offensively the team combined for 11 hits and drew 8 walks. Konnor Palmeira had a big game with a double and a triple, driving in 3 runs and Cameron Green also had a game with three hits, including a triple and driving in 3 runs. Ben Steck also hit his 2nd home run of the season that drove in a couple of runs. Kyle Nyblod finished the game out of the pen for EvCC, going 2.1 innings, struck out 4, and held the Royals to just one hit and no runs.
In the finale, the Trojans held Douglas hitless, but a sac fly brought in a lone run after an error, a walk, and a hit batter loaded the bases. It was a group effort out of the bullpen as six pitchers saw action, highlighted by Ediger, Taudin-Chabot, and Macwatters who combined for 5 innings pitched, no hits, and five strikeouts. Offensively it was the Konnor Palmeira show who hit 3 home runs with 5 RBI's. The performance doubled Palmeira's total on the season bringing him up to six on the year.
Several Trojans stood out over the weekend starting with Konnor Palmeira who's four game total combined for six hits and 12 RBI's. Ben Steck led the team in batting average at .615 and had 8 hits, including the home run, 5 walks, and 6 RBI's. Cameron Green also had 6 RBI's and 7 hits.