Travis Kunkel pitched a stellar complete game, and the Olympia baseball team jumped out to a five-run first-inning lead to defeat Graham-Kapowsin 9-3 on the road Thursday.
The victory moves the Bears into a three-way tie for first place in the South Puget Sound League with Sumner and Emerald Ridge with three games remaining in the regular season. Olympia lost to Graham-Kapowsin 6-4 Tuesday and responded immediately Thursday. Each of the first five Bears who stepped into the batter’s box reached base, and at the tail end of that rally, Kunkel and Connor Hardy each drove in a run with a single.
Landyn Keister followed with an RBI single, Milo Tolbert sacrificed to bring in a run, and Braden Barrett’s grounder forced an error and scored another run.
“The boys were excited to respond today. The big first was huge with a lot of quality at bats,” Olympia head coach Derek Weldon said.
Graham-Kapowsin registered a run in both the first and second innings before Olympia blew the game open in the fourth inning. Sawyer Dean notched a bunt double to score Barrett, and Miller and Dean both found their way home with heads-up baserunning.
Kunkel was strong late in the game, retiring the side in the sixth and working out of a jam with two on and no outs in the seventh. He allowed three runs — two earned — on nine hits, one walks and struck out three batters.
“Kunkel was a bulldog for seven innings, earning the first complete game of the year for our staff,” Weldon said. “I’m proud of the way we competed today. Tomorrow is just as big, and our focus is there now.”
Olympia (15-3, 11-3 SPSL) has no time to celebrate, as the Bears will hit the road for the final time this regular season in a pivotal matchup with Emerald Ridge (15-3, 11-3 SPSL). The winner will remain in at least a two-way tie for first place in the SPSL.
