The Northwest Christian baseball team got the last laugh in a teeter-tottering contest against Quilcene that saw five lead changes, surviving a 13-8 thriller Wednesday at the Regional Athletic Complex.
After the Wolverines put two runners on in the first inning and couldn’t score, Quilcene struck first in the top of the second. Northwest Christian took advantage of multiple second-inning errors by the Rangers and tied the game on an RBI single by Parker Cox.
Two sacrifices scored two runs for Quilcene in the third, and the Wolverines regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, highlighted by a sacrifice from Cox. The second lead change of the game belonged to Quilcene, which tied the game in the fifth on an RBI double before a fielder’s choice with a runner at third gave the Rangers the lead.
Then, it was Northwest Christian’s turn again. The Wolverines loaded the bases with no one out, and Luke Nickel was hit by a pitch to bring in the tying run. Cox came up clutch again with an RBI single that scored a second run due to an error. Down 7-5, Quilcene used a single and two sacrifices in the top of the sixth to jump in front 8-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, the first four Wolverines reached base, including a bases-loaded walk by Kanakoa Paresa to tie the game for the fifth time. Jack Vahey and Jadon Dillingham each scored on passed balls and wild pitches, and Myles McLain drilled an RBI single on a 3-2 count to hand the Wolverines an 11-8 lead.
Nickel doubled home McLain, and Marshall Guyer delivered the dagger with an RBI single. Guyer pitched five strong innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on just two hits while striking out seven batters and walking two. McLain relieved him in the seventh, and after surrendering a leadoff walk, the infield turned a clutch double play before recording the final out on a groundout to third.
“[Quilcene] always makes for a tough matchup. They play tough and fast,” Northwest Christian head coach Jordan Potis said. “Marshall really battled on the hill today. They put pressure on him all night. The bats really came alive late and continued to put pressure on their defense. Myles pitched a clean inning to lock the game down and get us a really hard-fought win.”
Cox finished 2 of 5 with four RBIs at the plate, while Nickel and Guyer each contributed two hits.
Northwest Christian (7-3, 3-3 Sea-Tac League) sits in third place in the league with a rematch against Quilcene (5-3, 2-1 Sea-Tac League) scheduled for Friday.
