Lakeside squeezes into third/fourth place game

After a pair of tough losses in which they could not find a way to mount an offensive attack, the Lakeside Recovery American Legion Baseball club found itself with its back against the wall on the last day of the Brandy Pugh Memorial Tournament.

Host team ends round robin play with 3-2 record

After a pair of tough losses in which they could not find a way to mount an offensive attack, the Lakeside Recovery American Legion Baseball club found itself with its back against the wall on the last day of the Brandy Pugh Memorial Tournament.

Needing a win in its final round robin game and plenty of runs scored in case of tie-breakers in order to advance to the third/fourth place game, Lakeside did its job, defeating first-place Red Lion 10-2 in a game ended after 4 1/2 innings thanks to the mercy rule.

With the win, Lakeside finished 3-2-0 in round robin play, and thanks to tie-breakers over the Twin City Titans and Vancouver Cardinals, Lakeside advanced to play Bankers Baseball on Monday at Bannerwood Park for third place. The result of that game, as well as Monday’s championship game between the Seattle Stars and Red Lion, was unavailable as of the Reporter’s deadline.

But winning that final game at Bellevue Community College on Sunday was crucial to put them in position to play on the final day, and win they did. Starting pitcher Adrian Sampson made sure of that.

Sampson allowed only two runs while fanning nine Red Lion batters in the complete game victory. Getting ahead with the fastball and with his change-up hitting its spots, at one point, Sampson collected five-straight outs via the strikeout.

“He’s been our best guy all year,” said Lakeside coach Rob Reese. “That’s what we expect from him every time, to throw strikes and have a great breaking ball.”

Sampson allowed seven hits and was bolstered by the quick run support his offensive generated. Lakeside’s first four batters reached base, and catcher Kyle Sutherland earned a bases-loaded walk to score the first run of the game. Ned Jones then added a two-run single and Sutherland scored from first after an errant Red Lion throw to third ended up in Lakeside’s dugout.

“Our bats were on fire today and that’s where all the credit should go,” said Sampson, who will be a senior at Skyline High School next season. “Today we came out on fire and that gave me confidence out there.”

Lakeside scored five more runs in the third, knocking out Red Lion starter Chris Armstead, who took the loss, only two batters into that inning.

Lakeside centerfielder Collin Bennett knocked in two runs with a deep double to center, his second of the day. Another run in the fourth and Sampson shutting the door on Red Lion in the top of the fifth ended the game.

“We did our part and now we got a chance,” Reese said. “If we had won one of the last two we’d have been playing for the championship but now we got a shot at third.”

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-4270 ext. 5060 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com.