Krilich's walk-off home run lifts Gig Harbor to 3A PSL title over Capital, 7-5
It's the scenario every baseball player imagines in their backyard growing up: Tie game, bottom of the seventh, and one swing away from a championship.
And with his chance for an unforgettable postseason moment, Cole Krilich called game.
Gig Harbor's right fielder fouled off strike two, fought off another to stay alive, then barreled his next offering for a no-doubt, walk-off home run in Monday's 3A Puget Sound League championship game. Krilich wasn't sure if the blast would clear the left field fence, but his team knew instantly, erupting from the dugout to congratulate their hero before the baseball could land.
'How could you not be romantic about baseball?' Tides head coach Ben Sleeter chuckled. '(Cole's) a senior, been an unbelievable player, and I knew he was due.
'I think everybody had a feeling he was going to do something there.'
Tied at five in the home seventh, Ethan Mar drew a leadoff walk and Krilich followed with a championship-winning swing, lifting Gig Harbor to a 7-5 win over Capital in a thrilling, back-and-forth affair at Lincoln High School. Both programs advance to next week's district tournament.
'It felt good,' Krilich smiled. 'It's pretty cool. We've had a good season so far, and we're just proving we can still do well. We're a good team.'
The Tides (21-1) fought back from a late, 5-2 deficit for their 21st win of the season, a year defined by dominant pitching and dazzling defense. Capital's five runs are the most allowed by Gig Harbor all spring.
Gig Harbor's used to winning — just not this way. It wasn't the all-around clinic the Tides are accustomed to, but they're calm and confident even when opponents grab momentum or pull away with a late lead.
'It's just confidence and believing that we can win every game,' Krilich said. '(We) go into every game thinking we're going to win. That just keeps it rolling.'
The Tides plated three runs in the fifth inning to tie Monday night's PSL championship, capped by Ethan Mar's RBI single and Wesley Bonnici's game-tying, bases-loaded walk with two outs. Gig Harbor saved their best at-bats for the fifth, including Hunter Payne's 10-pitch walk and hits by Jayce Corley and Greyson Riley that sparked the comeback.
Gig Harbor starter Quentin Bockhorn, who posted a 0.21 ERA with 39 strikeouts in the regular season, went just three innings, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) with one walk and four strikeouts. He plunked two batters.
'We didn't defend today like we've defended all year,' Sleeter said. 'We kind of threw it around a bit, uncharacteristic of us. But the one thing these guys have shown all year long is that they don't get down. Two runs, three runs, they know they can come back.
'I told them, they lean on people. They lean and lean and lean, and eventually, they put enough pressure and something good happens.'
Mar reached safely in all four plate appearances, finishing 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs. Corley and Riley each went 2-for-4.
Capital starter Lucas Redman took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and kept Monday's championship within reach, allowing five hits and four earned runs (four strikeouts) across five frames. He threw 103 pitches.
Cougars shortstop Gavin Dolan scored from third base and put Capital on the board in the first inning, 1-0, when Tides catcher Troy Tackett's pick-off attempt sailed into left field.
Dolan scored again from third base on a wild pitch in the third inning and doubled the Cougars lead, 2-0.
The Tides plated two runs in the fourth when Payne rifled an RBI single to right field — Gig Harbor's first hit — and Mar raced home on a passed ball.
Capital and Gig Harbor traded three runs apiece in the fifth inning before Krilich's title-winning swing in the seventh.
The District 3/4 3A tournament begins next Tuesday and concludes with the title game at Auburn High School on May 17. Of the 16 district allocations, seven advance to the state bracket.
'We'll clean it up,' Sleeter said, 'and hopefully go compete.'
'Unbelievable' defense, elite pitching power Gig Harbor's 20-1 season
BELLARMINE PREP ADVANCES TO DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
No. 8 Bellarmine Prep 7, No. 7 Timberline 2
Raiden Calcote's go-ahead, two-run single broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning and powered Bellarmine Prep's 7-2 win over Timberline in Monday afternoon's loser-out playoff at Lincoln.
The Lions grabbed the 3A PSL's final district tournament allocation behind Calcote's clutch hitting and four strong innings from senior right-hander Dolan Wynne, who allowed two hits and two runs with six strikeouts.
Joshua Morales earned Monday's save with three shutout relief innings. He struck out seven.
Bellarmine's Calvin Dossett padded the lead with a two-run double in the sixth.
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