Updated  with game recap

By Jeff Smarr

Having already clinched first place in the Wesco South, the Edmonds-Woodway baseball team Tuesday completed a sweep of its regular season-ending series against Cascade with an 8-5 home victory over the South division runner up Bruins.

With the win, the first-place Warriors finished division play 13-2 heading into this weekend’s District playoffs. “It was nice to be able to win after already clinching and go into the playoffs on a winning note,” said Warrior pitching coach Will Budnick.

Tuesday’s game was “Senior Day,” and as is tradition, the Warriors featured all six of their seniors: catcher Cody Edwards, pitcher Austin Holmes, shortstop Alex Hull, centerfielder Troy Rheinford, first baseman Jorgen Arnesen and designated hitter Bryce Mezich. Prior to the game, the seniors were joined on the field by their parents: Nancy and Scott Edwards, Shealan and Jake Arnesen, Jay Mezich, Lisa and Kevin Rheinford, Kim and David Holmes, and Wendy and Bill Hull.

Holmes started on the mound for the Warriors and pitched three solid innings of shutout ball for E-W. The Warriors scored the first runs of the game in the second inning. Left fielder Mac McLachlan singled to left and scored on an RBI double off the right field wall by third baseman Joey Rees. With one out, second baseman Chance Justice smacked a double off the left field wall, scoring Rees.   Holmes then reached on an error by the Bruins first baseman, with Rees advancing to third. Rees then scored while the catchers threw to second to get courtesy runner Matthew Gerhardt stealing.  Edwards grounded to second to end the scoring with the Warriors leading 3-0.

In the fourth inning, Justice relieved Holmes on the mound. Bruin left fielder Michael Mazza reached on an error, followed by a walk to first baseman Danny Townsend. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Mazza scored on a fielder’s choice ground ball by Ryan Lucas.  Blake Hilde followed with a double then Lucas scored on a sacrifice fly to center. Ryan Blake lined out to end the inning for Cascade, which now trailed 3-2.

In the bottom half of the inning,  new Warrior left fielder Gerhardt led off with a walk and advanced to second when Rees was hit by a pitch.  Right fielder Dominic Marinez reached on an error to load the bases with nobody out. Justice grounded into a force at second, scoring Gerhardt and giving E-W a 4-2 lead. The next two Warriors were retired ending the inning, with the home team up by two runs.

In the fifth, the Bruins’ Killian McGuire led off with a single to right. Leadoff hitter KJ Brady then struck out looking before Patrick Chung singled to right. Mazza walked to load the bases and the Bruins scored their third run on a bases-loaded walk to Danny Townsend. Lucas then tied the game for Cascade on a sacrifice fly to center, with Mazza advancing to third on the throw.  Austin Pinorini ‘s single scored Mazza, giving the Bruins a 5-4 lead. Ryan Blake lined out to end the inning.

In the Warriors’ half of the fifth, the first two batters were retired before a two-out walk to new centerfielder Jason Smarr.  Smarr stole second, then advanced to third on a single by Gerhardt. Pinch-hitter Tate Budnick singled to left, scoring Smarr with the tying run.    Freshman Marinez then got his first varsity hit, doubling to right center and scoring Budnick with the go ahead run.  “I was looking for a pitch to hit, I wanted to smash it, wanting to hit it hard, and I got a double out of it. I was pumped,” Marinez said. Marinez then scored on a Justice grounder off the glove of the Bruin shortstop. At the end of the inning, the Warriors had re-taken the lead, 8-5.

Senior Bryce Mezich came in to pitch the sixth and seventh innings for the Warriors to get the save, retiring six of the seven Bruins he faced.  Mezich struck out two in the sixth and all three Cascade batters in the seventh hit fly balls to right fielder Marinez. Freshman Brady Edwards was credited with the win.

After the game, Warrior coach Dan Somoza was all smiles:  “This was a fun game.  Everyone got to play and we still won. A great way to finish the season.”  Somoza also took time to talk about each of the six seniors:
Austin Holmes: “He has made amazing strides since his freshman year. He’s worked hard, and now he’s our leadoff hitter.”
Troy Rheinford: “He’s a leader, an amazing center fielder with a great attitude.”
Alex Hull: “He’s all everything, a wizard in the classroom and on the field. He makes us go.”
Cody Edwards: “He’s just a great catcher. Positive attitude. Loved to see him catching his younger brother today.”
Jorgen Arnesen: “He’s our Ace, our clean-up hitter. Loved watching him grow up. He just loves the game.”
Bryce Mezich:  “He’s just lights out on the mound.  Strong arm. Big kid.  Great presence at the plate.”

Somoza noted that with so many players contributing on Tuesday, his pitching rotation will be all rested and set for the District playoffs. Arnesen is slated to start Saturday’s opener against either Monroe or Arlington. Game time is 2 p.m. at Warrior Field.  Admission is free. The game can also be heard on Warrior Radio.

Cascade                   000 230 0–5 7 2
Edmonds-Woodway 030 140 x–8 9 1

Matthew Butler, Casey Bergmans (3), Josh Staveskie (5), Jack Nazy (6) and Michael Mazza. Austin Holmes, Chantz Justice (4), Brady Edwards (5), Bryce Mezich (6) and Cody Edwards. WP–B. Edwards (1-0). LP–Staveskie. 2B–Von Ferguson (C), Joey Rees (EW), Justice (EW), Dominic Marinez (EW) . Records–Cascade 10-5 league, 14-6 overall. Edmonds-Woodway 13-2, 16-4.