photo by Rich Dworkis
After losing the opening game of the North Region Tourney, Bellevue College baseball won four games in a row including two wins over Edmonds on Sunday May 19 to win the region’s #1 seed into the NWAACC Championships this week. After being in a battle just two weeks ago for the fourth and final spot in the region standings and tourney, the Bulldogs have gone from being a .500 club to winning the North Region tourney, establishing a 30-win season, and are 14-3 in the past month heading into the NWAACC Championships in Longview.
Following the opening round loss to Edmonds by a score of 6-2, Bellevue had to come back and win four loser-out games in a row to earn a berth to the NWAACC Championships. The ‘dogs bounced back the following day with wins over top-ranked Everett by a score of 8-5 and Skagit Valley 6-1. Left-handers Jake Reppert (vs. Everett) and Alex Hatch (vs. Skagit Valley) stepped up and threw complete game gems to keep the Bulldogs in it. Offensively, the Bulldog bats were consistent throughout the order in both wins. Jordan Richartz had five hits on the day.
On Sunday May 19, Bellevue defeated Edmonds 6-5. Leading 6-3 in the ninth, Edmonds made things interesting with a two-run home run before Cody Culp retired the final batter to earn the save. Dustin Doucette, who had not started a game in over a month, was brilliant on the mound, going 8 2/3 innings and yielding only three runs. Following the dramatic win, Bellevue came out and took control in game two, as Sheldon Stober belted the first pitch of the game off the wall in left field to set the tone for what would be Bellevue’s fourth straight game with ten or more hits. Stober had four hits in the game. The Bulldogs, who led both games the entire way, added insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning on a single by Nick Pribble and a big 2-RBI double by RIchartz who came up big again in the tourney. The insurance runs were huge as Edmonds mounted a threat with three straight hits to load the bases. Culp, for the second time in the day, struck out the final batter to preserve the win.
photo by Rich Dworkis
Bellevue will square off with Yakima Valley, the East Region’s #2 seed Thursday May 23 at 12:35pm in the opening round of the NWAACC Championships.
Here is a link for all tournament info
Here is a link for photos of the North Region Tourney championships games. All photos taken by Sandy Horvath
Here is a link of press coverage of the championship game by the Daily Herald. Special thanks to Larry Walker and Seth Dawson of Everett CC who helped arrange media coverage of the event.
Other notes for Bellevue fans:
*The team headquarters will be the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso.
*There is massive construction around Story Field (on Lower Columbia campus) so parking will be at a premium, especially during the first two days of the tournament. Please park in the lots beyond center field and beyond right field.
*The entry point to Story Field will be in the left field corner of the stadium. This is where the ticket booth and will call table will be set up. There will not be an entry point on the first base side of the stadium.
Last Updated October 25, 2013
