Wolverines clinch Tri-District berth in back-to-back playoff wins | Baseball

Senior Austin Lambright struck out 16 would-be hitters and held the Pioneers scoreless over the final six innings of a "win-or-go-home" playoff contest to keep the Wolverines within striking distance. So, with two runners on, the table was set for heroics when sophomore Gabe Lawson dug into the batters box with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

May 7, 2013 6:17 pm
Friday Harbor's Austin Lambright delivers a pitch in the Wolverines post-season opener
Friday Harbor's Austin Lambright delivers a pitch in the Wolverines post-season opener

The offense came alive when Friday Harbor needed it most.

With only two outs left and facing elimination from post-season play, and trailing by a run, sophomore Gabe Lawson drove in two runs with a game-winning double to send the Wolverines into the Tri-District playoffs in a 2-1 victory Saturday, May 4, over Nooksack Valley, at Pipeline Fields in Blaine.

After the Wolverines (17-4) gave up one run in the first inning, senior Austin Lambright struck out 16 would-be hitters and held the Pioneers scoreless over the final six innings of a “win-or-go-home” playoff contest to keep the Wolverines within striking distance. Lambright allowed just two base hits in seven innings.

With the win over Nooksack Valley, followed by a 6-3 victory over South Whidbey later that day in the District 1 consolation bracket final, the Wolverines clinched a berth in the Tri-District tournament as the region’s No. 3 seeded team.

They will travel to Vashon Island Thursday, May 9, to face the Pirates (11-8) in an opening round elimination game of the Tri-District tournament. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

— Scott Rasmussen