A fourth-place trophy wasn’t the hardware Kentwood’s baseball team went to Pasco to bring home from the 4A state tournament.
Instead the Conquerors, the 2012 state champions, returned from the 4A final four with a pair of losses at the hands of South Kitsap in the semifinals and cross-town rival Kentridge in the third-fourth place game.
Kentwood head coach Mark Zender wrote in an email interview, the Conks did more than anyone expected them to accomplish.
“We had a blast and were a young team,” Zender wrote. “As a general rule, this team overachieved. We put ourselves in position to win a state championship. We lost two one-run ball games. Though disappointed, this group exceeded expectations. If you do that your entire life it will always be one heck of a ride.”
Conks freshman Jordan Jones pitched a complete game against the Wolves in the semifinal, allowing just one run, but Kentwood’s typically potent offense went cold as South Kitsap pitcher Mike Wood’s season strikeout total moved into the triple digits with the first batter of the game. Wood quieted the Kentwood bats and ended the quest for a second straight state title.
Zender noted there is much more for Kentwood to take away than a trophy.
“Above all they learn that hard work and dedication leads to good things,” Zender wrote. “It obviously applies to baseball in this case but also applies to their life in general. The rewards of advancing to this level last a life time. The memories — even though we lost two one-run ball games — last a life time.”
One memory the Conks will take with them was fighting in their final two games at state this spring.
While Kentwood put together six hits in the third place game, Kentridge tallied nine in a back and forth battle.
Going into the top of the seventh the Conks were down one run then tied the game up but couldn’t hold the Chargers who scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh for the 4-3 victory.
Coming into this state tournament Kentridge had just one piece of baseball hardware in its trophy case, a third place trophy from 1991. A year ago the Chargers were eliminated in the first round.
In the semifinal Kentridge was downed 10-0 in five innings by Skyview which went on to beat South Kitsap for the state crown May 25.
Chargers senior Travis McGuire was 1-for-3 with a two RBI double while Isaiah Terry went 2-for-2 at the plate, Andrew Barrera was 3-for-4 with a run scored, Joe Wainhouse hit an RBI triple and Joel Condray went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the game against the Conks.
Sam Dacus pitched a complete game for Kentridge against Kentwood.
Kentridge, which finished the season with a 21-9 overall record, has nine seniors on its roster while Kentwood has five seniors.
The Conks finished the season 21-7 overall after winning the South Puget Sound League North regular season title. This year’s playoff experience should pay dividends in 2014 .
“The younger players get to experience something you can’t teach,” Zender wrote. “They know what it takes, see day-to-day, first hand from the older players what it takes and can now apply that to their work in the off-season and next season. It is a huge, intangible lesson. Winning is something that takes so much more than talent. You certainly must have talent, however, sincere deep seeded belief is a must, as is the ability to relax under pressure.”
