April 30, 2010
Kangs Overcome Slow Start in 6-4 Win
Bob Cruikshank (left) and
Trevor Dunlap led LW to a key KingCo win.
In a game with playoff implications, Lake Washington
responded to a four-run Woodinville first inning with six unanswered runs,
topping the Falcons, 6-4. The win puts
LW in a third-place tie with Woodinville at 7-8, one game ahead of fifth place
Ballard, who lost 7-6 to Bothell on Friday evening.
The Falcons four-run inning started with a leadoff
error. Following a sacrifice bunt,
Woodinville ran off three straight hits to take a 2-0 lead. Following a flyout to center field, Falcon
sophomore Jeff Wyner doubled deep to left-center field, plating two more runs
and staking Woodinville to a 4-0 lead.
The Kangs threatened in the first and second innings before breaking
through with two runs in the third on a 2-run double by senior first baseman
Trevor Dunlap. The score remained 4-2
into the fifth, when LW took command. Junior
Bob Cruikshank led off with a double and scored on sophomore Theo Alexander’s
single, cutting the lead to 4-3 Alexander
stole second and scored on another Dunlap base hit to tie the game at 4. Consecutive singles by juniors Chris Moore
and Kory Kohlwes loaded the bases for John Shimabukuro, who gave LW the lead
with a sacrifice fly. A double steal by
Moore and Kohlwes provided the sixth and final Lake Washington run.
Cruikshank cruised into the sixth after the rough first
inning, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs (1 earned) in 5 2/3 innings of work. He handed the ball to fellow junior Spencer
Jackson with 2 on and 2 out in the top of the sixth. Jackson was greeted by a single to load the
bases. Woodinville third baseman Sean
Sellers then drove a ball to right field that off the bat looked like a 3-run
double. LW right fielder Chris Moore had
other ideas, making a full-speed game-saving catch to preserve the lead. Jackson allowed a leadoff single in the
seventh, but retired the final three hitters to clinch the win.
The Kangs offense was hot once again in this one, picking up
12 hits on the night. For the week, LW
was 34-84 (.405), led by six hits a piece from Cruikshank and Alexander. On this afternoon, they were led by Trevor
Dunlap (2-for-3, double, 3 RBI), Alexander (2-for-4, 2 runs), Cruikshank
(2-for-3, double, run), Moore (2-for-3, run) and Alex Donnelly (2-for-4).
One regular season game remains for LW, who appears to have
clinched a playoff spot with Friday’s win (awaiting tiebreaker confirmation). Senior Night is on Tuesday, when the Crown
Division champion Inglemoor Vikings visit Lee Johnson Field. Game time is at 7:00 pm.
Check back often for the latest on Lake Washington Kangs
Baseball.