By Gerardo Bolong

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On senior day, Mon., April 30, at Seattle Christian, senior Spencer Howell pitched a seven-inning, 86-pitch complete game in a 6-3 win against visiting Bellevue Christian to tie the Warriors for first place in the Nisqually 1A baseball league.

In the final league standings, SC tied Bellevue Christian and Charles Wright Academy for first place at 8-4.

When the tie-breaking factors were applied, CW had the title with BC second and SC third.

The Warriors (9-6 overall) play Cedar Park Christian in a non league match up at Marymoor Park on Wed., May 2, before playing a pig tail game at Olympic No. 2 Chimacum on Sat., May 5. A win there qualifies SC for a 4 p.m. district game against Charles Wright scheduled for Foss High School on Tues., May 8.

Connor Knack opened up with a first inning, lead off  walk before advancing to second base on a ground out.

Back to back walks to Colin Heffernan and Shane Merrit loaded the bases for  Trevor Clute to force home a run on another base on balls. One out later, an infield error accounted for the second Warrior tally.

Knack's solid work at shortstop was part of a Warrior defensive effort that backed Howell's economical pitching performance.

Following a six-pitch first inning, Howell continued to shut out the Vikings from Clyde Hill with a 13-pitch second inning based on an inside fast ball that set up his off speed strike out pitches.

BC threatened in the third inning with one out. Peyton Bowers singled to set up on first base. Chase Russell lined a hit to right field, but Bailey Phelps quickly retrieved the ball to throw to shortstop Knack for a force out. An infield throwing error allowed the next batter to reach base. After runners reached second and third, a Howell to Knack to Shane Merritt run down play picked off the runner that was on second base, although Bellevue Christian scored a run from third base before the third out was applied to make the score 2-1.

In the bottom of the inning, the Warriors had two runners on base, but left fielder Peyton Bowers threw out the Seattle Christian base runner that tried to advance to third base on Trevor Clute's base hit. Two outs later, the Vikings were out of the jam.

Howell made a huge mistake on batter Chase Russell in the third inning by serving up a home run ball to Chase Russell and the score was tied at 2-2.

In the fourth inning, SC retaliated with Jaden Stevenson powering a lead off double to left field. Phelps walked ahead of an infield single by Knack that was accentuated by a throwing error on the play and the Warriors regained the lead. Keaton Banister sent a sacrifice fly out to centerfield that enlarged the SC lead to 4-2.

Following a two-out Howell single, Stevenson out did his earlier deep double by clubbing a two-run homer over the left field fence to give SC a 6-2 breathing room.

"It was an inside pitch," said Stevenson. "Probably a fast ball."

With a cushion given to him, Howell threw even harder and controlled the rest of the game except for allowing a solo home run to Cade Peterson in the seventh inning.

"My out pitch was a let up slider," said Howell, who finished with eight strike outs. "Their homers were on a fast ball and a curve. Adrenaline got going in the last two innings. It was my first complete game."

Howell had pitched a total of seven innings this season.

Besides Howell and Stevenson, Phelps and Merritt made their final home bows in the regular season finale.

"Last season, we had a strong senior pitching staff," said head coach Craig Wrolstad. "At the start of this season, Howell had a sore arm. This was a good win, especially for the seniors."