Eastlake baseball stays undefeated with win against Bothell

On Friday, March 14, the Eastlake Wolves baseball team defeated the Bothell Cougars in a 3-0 victory, giving the Wolves a three-game winning streak.

The bats never really came alive for either team in this outing. The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when the Wolves caught their first break with a hit-by-pitch that sent Noah Koong to first base for Eastlake. As the Cougars caught the next two at-bats in the outfield for Bothell, Koong managed to tag-up for the Wolves, advancing across home plate for a 1-0 Eastlake lead.

Frustrated with the scoreless game going into the fifth inning, Bothell switched from power hitting to bunting. While Wyatt Mickleberry safely reached first on a bunt, Teyton Hardeman was unable to beat the throw for their first out. Rounding out the inning, Blake Skinner and Nolan LeDoux were also thrown out, leaving Mickleberry stranded at the end of the Cougar at-bat.

Coming to the plate in the bottom of the fifth for Eastlake, Preston Todd got the only base hit for Eastlake. After that, the Cougars walked the next two, Jayden Matsuoka and Gabe Prock, to load the bases. While Todd and Larson Kohlman were thrown out on a double play at home and first, Matsuoka and Prock eventually crossed home plate on stolen bases and passed balls for an additional pair of runs and a 3-0 advantage for the home team to end the fifth inning.

Despite efforts from both teams, the sixth and seventh innings remained scoreless, and the Wolves took home the 3-0 victory.

Eastlake Coach Elliot Cribby credited the win to a detail oriented, close-knit team that really wanted the win.

“The ability to stay and hang into the game tonight was huge for us,” Cribby said.

Eastlake baseball will play Issaquah at Issaquah High School on March 19 at 4:30 p.m.