May 23, 2005
Kangs are KINGCO
CHAMPIONS!
David Marks’s two-strike, two out double
scored Josh Ashenbrenner with the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth
inning, to give the Kangs the 6-5 win and the KingCo Championship. Max Navalinski worked
the final three innings in relief, allowing two hits and a run while striking
out two to pick up the win.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Ashenbrenner hit a ground ball to second base, but reached
when the throw from the Woodinville second baseman was off the bag. With a 1-2 count on Marks, Ashenbrenner stole second base. After fouling off three more pitches and
working the count to 3-2, Marks hit a fly ball in the left-center field gap
that dropped between the Falcon outfielders, scoring Ashenbrenner
from second and setting off the Kangs’ celebration.
Paul Dickey started the game for the Kangs,
working 5 innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) and 9 hits, striking out 8. Dickey left after five with a 5-4 lead, but
Woodinville tied the game up in the top of the sixth with a lead-off double by
catcher Alex Crawford and a two-out RBI single by shortstop Curtis Van Wyck.
The win was a definite team effort, with
eight of the nine Kang starters picking up at least one hit. Josh Ashenbrenner
was 2-4 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a key stolen base. Navalinski was also
2-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
David Marks and Aaron Shultz each had two hits for the Kangs, who won
their first KingCo championship since 1984.
The Kangs now advance to the 4A State tournament for the second
consecutive season. They will open state
tournament play on Saturday at Kent Memorial Park against the loser of
Tuesday’s Puyallup – Kentwood contest.
The time for the game has not yet been determined.
Be sure to check this site often for game
recaps, box scores and results from around the KingCo 4A Conference.