4 days ago
Mount Vernon's offense explodes in 3A state championship win over Kennewick
Kennewick tried to pitch around Mount Vernon's Xavier Neyens in the Washington WIAA Class 3A state championship game at Parker Faller Field in Yakima on Saturday. Three times, the Lions intentionally walked Neyens, the No. 1 prospect in the state and a projected first-round pick in this summer's MLB Draft.
But it turns out the rest of the Bulldogs can hit the ball pretty well, too. The game went back and forth early on and Kennewick led 5-2 at one point, but Mount Vernon exploded in the later innings, piling it on and walking away with a 14-6 win.
'We all love it when that happens,' Mount Vernon first baseman Bode Webb said of Kennewick's decision to keep intentionally walking Neyens. 'We always want (Neyens) to hit, but whatever happens, we love it. We never quit.'
As a team, Mount Vernon racked up 13 hits in 28 at-bats and drew nine walks. Webb drove in six runs for the Bulldogs, part of an offensive explosion that stretched close to three hours. When the dust settled, it was almost hard to believe Mount Vernon had ever trailed.
'Dawgs don't quit,' Webb said. 'Never do.'
Mount Vernon designated hitter Moises Lucatero hit three doubles. In total, five Mount Vernon players had multi-hit days. Kennewick, which came from behind a day prior to beat Gig Harbor in extra innings in the tournament semifinals, hit the ball pretty well, too.
Kennewick nine-hole hitter Dierks Chavez went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. First baseman Cameron Owen went 2-for-3 with two RBI. The Lions collected 10 hits, but couldn't keep pace with Mount Vernon's offensive explosion.
The title is Mount Vernon's third total and first since 1992, when the program defeated Sehome in the 3A championship game.
'It's a super tight group,' Webb said. 'We all love each other so much. I'm happy our seniors went out this way. I can't even explain it, it's awesome.'
