Eastlake Wolves beat the Curtis Vikings, 1-0, in a nailbiter
On Saturday, May 24, at 1 p.m., the Eastlake Wolves faced the Curtis Vikings from University Place for the opening round of the 4A State baseball tournament and delivered a nail-biting, 1-0, victory.
In a tight match-up at Eastlake High School, the Wolves defeated the Vikings when Cade Haroldsen attempted to steal third base. The throw from the catcher to third flew past the third baseman to the outfield, allowing Haroldsen to cross the plate for the only run of the game that came in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Rodrigo Mantano started on the mound for the Wolves in the opening game of the state tournament. Taking a few pitches to find his groove, the first batter got on base with a walk. Fortunately, for the home team, the runner was thrown out when the pitcher caught a pop-up, throwing out the surprised runner at first. A hit to the shortstop and throw to first ended the at-bat for the visitors.
The Wolves’ first at-bat went similarly to the Vikings’, and no progress was made.
While nothing was added to the scoreboard in the third or fourth inning, Larsen Kohlman ripped a single between first and second base in the third and Mantano contributed his second strikeout for Eastlake. Mantano got a hit in the fourth but was tagged out on an attempt to steal second. Larsen connected for a base hit to left field but the third out left him stranded on first base to close the fourth inning.
Mantano struck out one batter and walked another in the fifth inning, and the Vikings were unable to score.
For the Wolves’ fifth at bat, Dominic Miller started the inning with a hit to center field for a single. Haroldsen got on base with a bunt when he out-ran the throw to first. Unfortunately for Eastlake, Miller was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice. Travis Beam was hit by a pitch, sending Haroldsen to second. Eastlake now had runners at first and second.
Cruz Payne connected for a ground ball but was thrown out while Haroldsen stole third base. A bad throw from the Vikings to third sent the ball into the outfield, and Haroldsen crossed the plate for the only run of the day.
Not willing to give up, the Vikings gave the Wolves a scare in the sixth inning. With Connor Maynard replacing left-hander Mantano on the mound, Noah Potucek took first on a walk for the Vikings. He advanced to second when Parker Mady hit a fly ball but was thrown out at first. For their second out, Riley Angelo hit a pop-up to the Eastlake shortstop, and the base runner failed to advance. When the next pitch got past the catcher, Potucek advanced to third base on a steal. Curtis now had the tying run in scoring position.
Joe Giles came to the plate for the Vikings and connected for a beautiful line-drive that slipped into foul territory just before the bag on the third base line, and Potucek was sent back to third. Lucky for Eastlake, his next shot flew high to center field where center fielder Jayden Matsuoka caught the ball, ending the inning and the threat.
In the final inning, Maynard struck out the first Viking batter, but Coach Cribby pulled him in the seventh after one and two-thirds innings when Harlan Carrillo connected for a double to center field for Curtis. With one out remaining in the game, the Wolves brought in Thomas Wood. With a total of six pitches and a full count, Bradley Dinelt hit a line drive to first base for the final out of the game.
In five innings, Mantano struck out three and walked two. Maynard struck out two and walked one in one and two-thirds innings. The Wolves had a total of five hits in the opening round game.
The Eastlake Wolves won their opening game of the state tournament to play again, the same afternoon, at 4 p.m. where they defeated the Issaquah Eagles, 4-2, for the quarter finals.
Eastlake will advance to the semifinals on Friday, May 30 at 4 p.m. at Parker-Faller Field in Yakima.
