By Kyle Howard

Plenty of fans and former players turned up to see the final regular season game of Mount Rainier head coach Darrin Rawie and Highline head coach Dave Larson. Larson has coached the Pirates for 17 seasons and Rawie has coached Mount Rainier for 12 seasons. It was also senior night for Highline, as they say goodbye to nine seniors.

Mount Rainier put a run on the board right away with a leadoff home run by Jon Culver to left field. Highline answered back in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1. In the top of the fifth with a tie game at 3-3 Mount Rainier’s Logan Wagner had a bit of an embarrassing moment. Wagner hit a solo home run, and after making his way around the bases and being greeted by his teammates he was called out on an appeal by Highline for missing first base, which took away what would have been the go ahead run.

The tie remained until the seventh inning when Mount Rainier found itself with two outs and the bases loaded. Ben Badley knocked in what turned into the winning run, giving the Rams the victory over Highline, 4-3. Rams starting pitcher Brett Fawcett pitched the full game, striking out five. Mt. Rainier scored four runs on five hits, but left 10 runners on base for the game. Highline scored three runs on six hits.

Darrin Rawie is pleased with the last 12 seasons.

“it’s been fun, and an honor and I’m very proud to be out in the field for Dave Larson’s final game as well," he said.

When asked what he was planning to do on his off time Rawie replied, “I’ve got a boat ready and sitting down at the Des Moines Marina”.

Dave Larson wasn’t done yet. Highline made the playoffs as the No. 2 seed, although it bowed out of the West Central District's sub-district tournament with losses to Bonney Lake and Enumclaw.

Coach Larson said, “My time at Highline is up. It's time to move on and turn it over to somebody else, but I don’t think it’s the last game I’m ever going to coach."

Larson’s plans are to spend time with family, go fishing, and just see what other opportunities come up.

Good luck to both coaches. Your dedication to your teams is much appreciated by plenty.