The Lower Columbia College Red Devils fell one out short of league perfection, but by taking 3 of 4 games from Tacoma they punched their ticket to the NWAC Championship tournament.
The last weekend of the regular season was a memorable one. On Friday May 8th, the Devils honored veterans with the Vetcorps "From the Battlefield to the Outfield". A good crowd was on hand to honor veterans and watch some great baseball. The Devils won Friday's first game 6-4. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th, LCC exploded for three runs in the 5th and two more in the sixth.
Tanner Marty had three hits and an RBI to lead the way. Seaver Whalen had two hits and an RBI. Starter Tanner Olson went 6 1/3 solid innings, giving up just two earned runs. Christian Parsons came on to slam the door with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Parsons got the victory.
The Devils could clinch the West with a win in the second game, but they couldn't muster a run through the regulation seven innings. But in the 8th, LCC got a huge hit down the left line from Ryan Engquist to drive in the game winning run, a 1-0 LCC victory. The clutch hit sparked a celebration of winning the West.
Kade Kryzsko was masterful, going all eight innings allowing just three base hits. He struck out five and walked just one.
The Friday sweep took the pressure off Saturday's twinbill at Tacoma. But with a 10-5 win in the first game, the Devils were thinking of running the West table.
In that first game Saturday, Enquist was 3 for 4 with two RBI's. Kane Ulrich also went 3 for 4. Micheal Forgione and Lorin Archibald both had two hits and two RBI's.
Jeremy Rabauliman got the win, scattering 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Joel Worden gave up just three hits in 2 2/3 innings and Peyton Burks pitched a perfect ninth.
The second game Saturday saw LCC with a 4-3 lead with one out to go, but the Titans scored two runs in the final inning to avoid a season series sweep at the hand of the Devils, taking a 5-4 win.
Ryan Littlefield, Rory Graf-Brennen, and Chris Rogers had two hits each. LCC scored all four of its runs in the sixth inning.
The West Region championship means the Red Devils will play in the championship tournament they will host May 21-25 at Story Field.
Mt. Hood, Treasure Valley and Edmonds are also in the field. The rest of the teams will be decided in the NWAC Super-Regional tournaments going on at Tacoma, Lane, Everett and Walla Walla.
