TACOMA — The DeMarini Renegades 15U team captured the 16U Greater Seattle League state tournament championship in dramatic fashion on July 16, winning 5-4 on a walk-off single by North Kitsap’s Chris Schuchart.
The Renegades were down 3-0 in the third after an error helped open the door to a three-run inning for their opponent, Puyallup-based PC Diamond Jaxx. But a four-run fifth vaulted the Renegades back into the game, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Central Kitsap’s Chandler Lindstrom got the win in relief, pitching 2 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit and one unearned run. Olympic’s Logan O’Neil got the start and went 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven.
South Kitsap’s Dylan LaBreche and Central Kitsap’s Ezekiel Rodriguez led off the bottom of the fifth with singles. Lindstrom laid down a drag bunt and ended up reaching first base himself to loaded the bases. The next batter, Peninsula’s Colby Small, was hit by a pitch to score the first run of the game. Olympic’s Jarit Clarke hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-2, and Schuchart tied the game with an RBI-single. O’Neil followed up with an RBI-single as well to give the Renegades the lead.
The Jaxx tied the game at four in the top of the sixth on a groundout after the previous batter made it all the way to third on a dropped third strike and an overthrow.
In the seventh, Small singled with one out to start the rally. Clarke then singled to left, and the duo pulled off a double steal to give the Renegades runners on second and third.
Schuchart ripped a single to left field. The throw from the outfield came to the plate, but Small was well ahead of the ball and scored the winning run to give the Renegades the victory.
“To win it like that in that fashion, the emotions were crazy,” head coach Steve Dickey said.
DeMarini Renegades 5, PC Diamond Jaxx 4
PC 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 — 4
DR 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 — 5
WP: Lindstrom
Pitching — O’Neil 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; Lindstrom 2.2 IP, H, R, 0 ER, 2 K.
Hitting — Clarke 2-3, RBI, SF; O’Neil 2-3, RBI; Schuchart 2-4, 2 RBI; Small 1-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB; Wolfe 1-3; Olsen 1-3; Labreche 1-3, R; Rodriguez, 1-3, R; Lindstrom, 1-3, R.
— Mark Krulish is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at mkrulish@soundpublishing.com.
