Islanders season ends at KingCo

After battling through a spring season of rain, delays and rescheduled games, the Islanders’ baseball season closed with a KingCo tournament loss to Lake Washington on Saturday.

By Megan Managan • May 17, 2011 5:09 pm
Mercer Island’s Philip Pugel (17) dives for a fly ball during the Islanders’ KingCo game against Mount Si on Thursday. The Islanders lost 5-0.
Mercer Island’s Philip Pugel (17) dives for a fly ball during the Islanders’ KingCo game against Mount Si on Thursday. The Islanders lost 5-0.

After battling through a spring season of rain, delays and rescheduled games, the Islanders’ baseball season closed with a KingCo tournament loss to Lake Washington on Saturday.

The team, which entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, lost to the Kangs 6-2 on Saturday in the final game of the tournament. On the line was the district’s fifth and final spot into the state tournament.

Before the loss to Lake Washington, the Islanders won their first game of the tournament over Liberty, with a convincing 10-1 score on Tuesday night.

Against Liberty on Tuesday, the teams were evenly matched in the first inning with no runs before the Islanders picked up speed. They scored three in the second and five in the third, to Liberty’s one run. Mercer Island sealed the game in the fifth inning with two runs, while holding off the Patriots.

Max Dammeier pitched for six innings and had one hit and one run on the batting side, while Evan Thompson was 2-2 at the plate with a double and two RBIs. Cameron Ogard was 2-3 with two RBIs and a run. Brian Higgins was 2-4 with two RBIs and a double.

The win moved the team into the semifinal game against the KingCo regular season champions, Mount Si.

Mercer Island recorded four hits during seven innings and got as far as third base, but was not able to turn the final corner.

Mount Si’s strong defensive game, including two double plays for the Wildcats to end innings, along with a solid pitching game, secured them a spot in the title game against Lake Washington.

With the loss to Mount Si, a team that went on to win the tournament, the Islanders faced Sammamish on Saturday afternoon. Mercer Island made quick work of the game, earning an 11-1 win over the Totems, keeping their season alive for one more game.

Just hours after the win over Sammamish, Mercer Island warmed up again, this time to face Lake Washington. Lake Washington got an early lead with two runs in the first, and four in the second for a lead that Mercer Island couldn’t get close to.

The Islanders finished the season with a 13-10 overall record after finishing 7-7 in league this spring.