March 15, 2010
Kangs Top Liberty 6-5 in Opener
Spencer Jackson and Colin
Tremblay keyed the Kangs opening day win.
Senior Colin Tremblay’s two-run double capped a five-run
sixth inning and junior Spencer Jackson picked up his first Varsity win as Lake
Washington won their season opener, 6-5 over Liberty on Monday. The win was the second one-run win over the
Patriots in as many years for the Kangs, who will join Liberty in the KingCo 3A
starting in 2011.
Jackson tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter
Nori Shimizu, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out 3. He kept the Kangs in the game long enough for
the offense to turn the game around in the top half of the sixth. Trailing 2-1 heading into the frame, juniors
Alex Donnelly and Bob Cruikshank reached base via walk and an infield single to
start things off. Sophomore outfielder
Theo Alexander sacrified the runners to second and third, and senior DH Phil
Gray tied the game up with a base hit to right field on an 0-2 pitch. Cruikshank gave LW their first lead of the
game at 3-2 when he scored on a wild pitch by Liberty southpaw John McLeod, who
was pulled from the game after reloading the bases with walks. Senior John Shimabukuro extended the lead
with a bases loaded walk, and Tremblay followed one pitch later, lining a ball
into left-center field for a two-run double, pushing the Kangs lead to
6-2.
Liberty would not go quietly, scoring three times in the
bottom of the sixth off junior right hander Bob Cruikshank, with two runs
coming on a two-run single by shortstop Troy Colyer. It appeared they would take the lead one
pitch later, but center fielder Alex Donnelly ran down a fly ball at the
warning track, quelling the Patriot threat.
Cruikshank would retire the side in order in the seventh, finishing the
game with a strikeout.
Tremblay finished the day 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI and
Wesley Russell walked and scored twice for Lake Washington. The Kangs will play their home opener on
Wednesday, when they take on Sammamish at 4:00 pm at Lee Johnson Field.
Check back often for the latest on Lake Washington Kangs
Baseball.