Mustang Baseball Takes 4th Place in State Tournament

The Redmond Mustangs squared off with the Richland Bombers on Saturday in a consolation game to decide who would earn third place in the Washington State 4A baseball tournament. At the end of the day it would be the Bombers who left the field with the third-place trophy in hand, defeating the Mustangs 9-7.

After struggling offensively Friday, the bats for both sides came out with the sun in the afternoon affair. Redmond matched and Richland passed their respective run totals from the previous day before a second out could be recorded against them.

The Bombers struck quickly, scoring 4 runs in the top of the first inning before the Mustangs even thought about putting on helmets, with the last two being plated on a 2 RBI double by first baseman Bob Imhoff. Redmond responded immediately, putting three runs on the board keyed by its own 2 RBI double off the bat of junior Patrick McGrath.

The difference in the game turned out to be Richland’s starting pitcher, Syd Hall. After a rough first inning, Hall was very effective in preventing the Mustangs from getting more than a single run in an inning. Hall pitched all 7 innings, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits while striking out two Mustangs.

After the long first inning the Mustangs tied the game in the second on a deep home run by shortstop Michael Comforto.  The Mustang senior would finish 4-4 with a triple, a home run, a stolen base, and 3 runs scored in his final game in a Redmond uniform.

“He came up big all state tournament long,” head coach Dan Pudwill said after the game. “He left everything out on the field and did everything he could.”

The Bombers took the lead for good in the top of the third as shortstop Mason Hilty highlighted a 4-run inning with a 2-run double to open up an 8-4 lead for Richland.

The Mustangs battled in an attempt to fight back but Hall retired six of the final seven batters he faced to give the Bombers a 2-run victory.