Cooper-West notches eight Ks in one-run win | Baseball

Friday Harbor snapped a scoreless tie and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Cooper-West and junior Peter Holt swatted back-to-back singles, and Gabe Lawson and Amer Melic each drew a walk to send Cooper-West across home plate with the Wolverines first run of the contest. But that narrow lead wouldn't last...

By Scott Rasmussen • April 5, 2014 9:12 pm
Thou shalt not steal: Casey Rothlisberger takes the throw from catcher Gabe Lawson for an out at second base in the Wolverines 2-1 win at home
Thou shalt not steal: Casey Rothlisberger takes the throw from catcher Gabe Lawson for an out at second base in the Wolverines 2-1 win at home

Otis Cooper-West struck out eight and scattered six hits over seven innings, and the Wolverines manufactured just enough offense to claim a one-run win at home, Wednesday, April 2, over Lynden Christian.

With the victory, Friday Harbor improved to 4-3 overall and, on the heels of a 10-4 win at home over Blaine two days earlier, notched its second-straight victory in regional 1A competition.

Friday Harbor snapped a scoreless tie and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Cooper-West and junior Peter Holt swatted back-to-back singles, and Gabe Lawson and Amer Melic each drew a walk to send Cooper-West across home plate with the Wolverines first run of the contest. The Lyncs got out of the inning, with the bases loaded and only one out, thanks to a timely double play, and then knotted the score at 1-1 in the fifth on a two-out single to center field that scored a runner from second.

Otis on moundThe Wolverines tallied what proved to be the game-winning run in the sixth, as a balk by the Lyncs pitcher gave freshman Kai Herko a free pass to home plate and Friday Harbor a 2-1 advantage. Copper-West weathered a lead-off single in the seventh, and a walk, by striking out two Lynden Christian batters and getting the final out of the final inning on a routine infield pop-up that Herko, at first base, handled with ease.

“We’re coming along okay,” Coach Rich Warin said. “We’ve got everybody back and healthy, and we’re playing better.”

Two days before, the heart of the Wolverines batting order came up big in a the 10-4 win over Blaine. Melic made the Borderites pay for giving an intentional walk to Lawson to load the bases, gambling on a double-play. The Wolverines senior shortstop stepped up to the plate and ripped a double that scored all three base-runners. Melic had five RBIs on two base-hits, and Holt and Cooper-West had three base-hits apiece, including a double for each.

On the mound, Lawson threw five innings and notched the win, and Melic kept the Borderites in check over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Next

The Wolverines faced Bellingham at home, Saturday, April 5, and are on the road to face Division 2A Squalicum Tuesday, April 8, before returning to Hartman Field to face league-rival Cedar Park Christian, Friday, April 11; game time is 4 p.m.