There are few things I enjoy as much as I do baseball and Star Wars is one of those things. So it was fitting that on Star Wars day I went out to cover some baseball and witness a great battle between two talented high school programs in SW Washington.
When I go to high school games I tend to expect a fair number of mistakes by both teams and normally a focus on offense over pitching but yesterday’s matchup centered around the two starting pitchers who both were solid.
For Ridgfield was Derek Kropp, whom I actually covered when he pitched in the 2018 Babe Ruth World Series here in Longview. He has a solid fastball but it is his off speed pitches that are his strength. He was able to keep hitters guessing all game long. I am not sure if Kropp, a senior, is committed any where but if not someone needs to pick this kid up.
Pitching for Columbia River was Sam Boyle who has a powerful fastball and looks to strikeout every hitter he faces. Nothing he throws is straight forcing the hitters to adjust to movement on his slider, change and even his fastball. Boyle, a junior, is committed to play at Washington.
The game was exactly what you would want out of a playoff game. Although there were some mental mistakes, those mistakes were only a piece of the puzzle and not the reason for one team’s victory or defeat.
The game came down to timely hitting and executing plays when needed and to see that for both teams at the high school level is a testament to the coaching staffs for both programs and the time and energy put in by the players.
Thank you to Ridgefield for allowing me to come down for a 2nd time this year to cover them and good luck to Columbia River as they advance on in the playoffs.
All game photos can be found here Columbia River vs Ridgefield May 4th