Baseball: Mercer Island’s big inning helps beat Liberty

Published 12:46 pm Friday, April 10, 2026

Mercer Island High School’s baseball team defeated Liberty High School Patriots, 11-9, on April 9.

The Patriots cruised to a 2-0 lead thanks to a dynamite start from sophomore Tate Tuininga. The right-handed fire baller didn’t allow a hit through the first four innings and struck out five Islanders in those four innings. His fastball touched 92 mph, according to radar guns behind home plate, and in the first four innings, Tuininga was at his best.

Then the fifth inning happened.

Tuininga hit the Islanders’ Benny Shleifer, who was later thrown out at second base. He struck out the second batter for the first out of the inning. But then the wheels fell off for Tuininga.

Liam Sirianni singled for the Islanders’ first hit of the game. A walk and hit by pitch ended Tuininga’s day as he left with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Ewan Shea was hit by a pitch, scoring Jaxon Aufranc to take the lead, and Albertino Pozzo singled home a pair of runs to increase that lead.

A total of 14 Mercer Island hitters went up to the plate in that fifth inning and eight runs came across to score for the Islanders.

Liberty scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a run scoring error and a single from Carson McCarry, which cut the lead to 8-4. A three spot in the sixth was the response Mercer Island was looking for. Pozzo doubled to right center to score two runs in the top of the sixth and later came around to score with Shea on a double from Cody Anderson.

Will Turba took the ball for Mercer Island and went four innings, surrendered four hits and two runs while striking out nine and walking four. Chase Koehler was the first name out of the bullpen — he pitched the sixth and gave up four runs, and three were earned. Brady Dolence pitched the final two innings and gave up three runs, none were earned, and surrendered four hits as well.

The Patriots responded in a big way, scoring four runs in the sixth for their best inning of the game. Down just three heading into the seventh, Liberty was back in the game and knocking on the door. Griffin Ellsworth started the inning off with a single and was thrown out at third base trying to go first to third. With two outs, the inning was extended following a Mercer Island error, which put the tying run on base. With the bases loaded, Liberty grounded out to end the game.