Hazen caps a crazy 24 hours with win over Moses Lake
Spring sports are getting underway and on Saturday the Hazen Highlanders were scheduled to travel over the mountains to open with a doubleheader against Moses Lake and Othello. But Mother Nature had other plans. On Friday afternoon word came down that Larson Playfield in Moses Lake would not be available due to anticipated snow. As a result, the coaches got together and moved the game to the West side of the mountains. But Bannerwood Park, Hazen’s home field, wasn’t available either. Some phone calls were made, umpires were procured, and in the end, Island Crest Park would be available after Mercer Island had finished practice for the day.
Moses Lake got a bus scheduled, but Othello wasn’t able to make it work logistically on short notice, so when it was all said and done, Hazen hosted Moses Lake at Mercer Island’s home field for a single header.
And what a game it was. Michael Getzinger was on the bump for Moses Lake. He showed an electric fastball, only allowing three scattered hits over three innings, striking out three and walking none.
Cam Heckel started on the mound for the Highlanders, but had to leave after just four batters due to an apparent arm injury. The Highlanders turned to sophomore Sam Nicholson for what amounted to an emergency spot start and he was up to the task. Nicholson tossed 3 1/3 innings, only allowing one hit and one unearned run, striking out four and walking three.
After four innings Moses Lake clung to a 1-0 lead. Next on the mound for Hazen was sophomore Benji Smajic. He kept the Mavericks at bay over the final three innings without allowing a hit or walk while striking out three.
Hazen’s offense was quiet most of the night but they tied it up in the bottom of the 5th when junior Kyle Tat was hit by a pitch, then scampered all the way around to third after an errant back pick attempt. Junior Riley Ottele knocked him in with an infield single deep in the hole at short.
Then in the bottom of the 6th the Highlanders put an inning together against Moses Lake’s bullpen. Juniors Marcus McCarthy and Morrie Solam walked, then Tat hit a solid single into right field to score McCarthy. Next up was Ottele, who hit a soft line drive just over the shortstop, scoring Solam and Tat.
It was a great win to open the season for the Highlanders over a quality opponent. This week Hazen hosts Lindbergh on Monday night, Eisenhower on Wednesday night, and then the Highlanders will face Newport at T-Mobile Park in the Mariners High School Baseball Classic on Saturday at 6pm.
R H E
Moses Lake 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 1 1
Hazen 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 – 4 6 3