Inglemoor Beats Bothell

The Bothell Cougars came to Valhalla this evening to play the Inglemoor Baseball Vikings. Bothell sat atop the Crown Division - Inglemoor in 4th.  Just as the league season opened with these two rivals playing first in late March, the 2nd go-round of inner-division games started tonight throughout KingCo. This meant another Inglemoor Bothell battle.

Inglemoor opened with the youngster on the bump, sophomore Obadiah Taylor who has pitched exceptionally well for the Vikings. Taylor came in 3-0 and has gifted the club with an attitude that they can beat anyone when he gets on the hill. Tonight, was no different - Inglemoor came ready to battle as the rivalry between the two schools is fierce with Bothell having their way of late and the Vikings committed to change that.  This Inglemoor squad felt shorted in their extra inning loss to the Cougars earlier in the year and  the Viks were ready to strap it on in this one led by Obi Taylor.

Bothell found their way on base in the 1st and quickly had 2 runners in scoring position but Taylor struck out the cougars tough 4 hitter then induced a ground ball to Sammy Johnston at SS to end the inning. The Cougar starter responded with allowing just a Jordan Sui double and striking out 3. In the 2nd Bothell scored 1 run on a hit batsman who was bunted over, moved to 3rd on a ground ball and came home on when the Bothell 9-hitter had an infield single.

The Viks responded with some fire - Ethan Yeo singled to open the frame and then big Scottie Meyers exploded on a 3-2 fastball crushing it way out into the practice field behind the right field wall. Not done on the inning, Marc Dickerson earned  a 7 pitch Base on Balls and then ran the track to score on a Erick Raynes double down the line. Viks led 3-1 after two.

Bothell got right back into the fight scoring 2 runs in the 3rd on a home run by Watson and an unearned run on a Viking miscue. It was the Viks turn  now tied 3-3.  Jordan Sui walked and Craig Jacobson pinch ran for the catcher promptly stealing 2nd base. Logan Moen moved him to 3rd with a ground ball to the right side and Big Ethan Yeo finished the deed with a long Sac Fly to deep left to score Jacobson easily.  With 2 outs Scott Meyers walked, stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch.  Obi Taylor then helped the cause with a single scoring Meyers. Vikings led by 2.

Bothell swung back with a lead off dinger in the 4th but that was their only run of the frame. Inglemoor match the Cougar tally with singles by Sammy Johnston, Jordan Sui and Logan Moen.  Taylor shut down the Cougars in the 5th highlighted by the Vikings second 6-4-3  double play of the game.

The Vikings then erupted for 3 runs on a lead off single by Meyers and a Marc Dickerson blast into the gap scoring Meyers on the triple. Erick Raynes executed a squeeze bunt to score Dickerson on a close play. Raynes, who reached on a Fielder's choice, stole 2nd and then scored when Bothell misplayed a Johnston ground ball. Vikings up 9-4.

Both stepped back into the offensive ring and delivered two more blows - plating 2 runs on 2 hits.  Inglemoor pitcher Obi Taylor had battled for 5 2/3 innings getting outs when he needed, turned the ball over to senior Trevor McMaster who induced a ground ball to 3rd to end the inning.

True to form for this one, Inglemoor responded in kind with Meyers scoring his 4th run of the game on a Dickerson single. Bothell landed two runners on base with a walk and a HB but McMaster got two Cougs to roll ground balls to Mitchell Gunsolus at 2nd that put Inglemoor an out away. The next Bothell  hitter lined a sharp ground ball up the middle that looked to be a sure hit. Dramatically, Gunsolus came out of nowhere to make an outstanding diving backhanded stop on the ball and quick delivery to Sam Johnston at 2nd for the force preserving the Viking triumph over Bothell