4A Baseball Regional: Skyview 3, Gonzaga Prep 1
Note: Because Skyview won the 10 a.m. game, the 4 p.m. game becomes the “bigger” story for the print edition. So here’s a quick recap of how the Storm advanced to the elite eight.
TACOMA — Skyview pitcher Ian Hamilton just kept getting better.
And now the Skyview baseball team is better than it’s ever been.
Hamilton struck out 12 in a four-hitter, leading the Storm to a 3-1 win over Gonzaga Prep in the first round of the Class 4A state regional baseball playoffs Saturday.
James Brooks hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning to give the Storm the lead, and Hamilton struck out six in the final three innings to close the deal.
The Storm will play again at 4 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the Heritage vs. Puyallup game, set to begin at 1 p.m.
It is the first time Skyview’s baseball program has reached the state’s elite eight.
“All the emotions really gave me more confidence,” Hamilton said. “I was excited for this game. I just really wanted to play today.”
The Storm left seven runners on base through the first four innings before breaking through with three runs in the fifth. Alec Chaney had a double, Brayden Maney was hit by a pitch, and Jordy Freese walked to load the bases. With two outs, Brooks smashed a shot through the middle to center field, scoring two runs to make it 2-1.
“I was just trying to find one I could handle and hit is as hard as I could,” Brooks said. “I had a lot of confidence at the plate. I saw what I wanted and took advantage.”
After another walk to load the bases again, Avery Schmidt worked from a 1-2 count to earn a walk to drive in another run for the Storm.
Gonzaga Prep scored an unearned run in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. An error led to a run-scoring single for Zach Bonneau.
Hamilton did not let that mess with him.
“We always find our stride in the later innings,” Hamilton said.
The Storm did exactly that, advancing to the regional finals. The winner of the 4 p.m. game will go to Pasco next weekend for the state’s final four.
Class 4A Regional Playoffs
Tacoma
SKYVIEW 3, GONZAGA PREP 1
Skyview 000 030 0—3 7 3
G Prep 001 000 0—1 4 0
Skyview (19-6)
Pitcher — Ian Hamilton 7 IP, win, 12 Ks, 0 earned runs.
Highlights — Brayden Maney 1-3, R; Alec Chaney 3-4, 2B, R; Jordy Freese 1-3, R; Jacob Dennis 1-2, James Brooks 1-3, 2 RBI; Avery Schmidt 0-1, RBI.
Gonzaga Prep (21-3)
Pitcher — Justin Blatner 42/3 IP, loss, 5 Ks; Max Graves 11/3 IP, 1 K; Wyatt Mills 1 IP, 1 K.
Highlights — Jordan Rathbone 1-4, 2B; Anthony Gosline 2-3; Zach Bonneau 1-3, RBI.
