Red Devils Claim Record 15th NWAC Baseball Championship with 5-3 Win Over Tacoma
LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Lower Columbia Red Devils won their record 15th NWAC Baseball Championship with a 5-3 victory over Tacoma on Monday afternoon at David Story Field
Tournament MVP Jadon Williamson was the story of the game as he was handed the ball in relief with just one out in the first inning, two runs already across and two runners still aboard. Williamson escaped the inning without any further damage and went on to pitch the final eight frames for the Red Devils, racking up 14 strikeouts in an incredible performance.
After TCC got two runs in the first, the Red Devils took over the lead in the top of the fourth with a big four-run inning. Justin Stransky started the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a three-run home run by Easton Amundson to give LCC a 4-2 lead. Out of the five home runs hit in the tournament, LCC had three of them.
Tacoma battled back throughout the game as they racked up 10 hits but were unable to bring more than one run across against Williamson, who scattered seven hits over 8.2 innings.
Despite finishing with just five hits, the Red Devils were able to outscore the Titans with their patience at the plate (drawing seven walks) and making consistent contact as they struck out only four times. This forced the Titans defense into three errors on the game.
Dylan Watts pitched four solid inning in relief for the Titans while Jack Berg held LCC scoreless over the final two frames.
Tournament MVP
Jadon Williamson, Lower Columbia
All-Tournament Team
Utility - Dane Woodcook, Tacoma
Utility - Cole Calnon, Lane
Catcher - Justin Stransky, Lower Columbia
Infield - Bryan Rojas, Lane
Infield - Garrett Gores, Spokane
Infield - Noah Juarez, Lane
Infield - Noah Fields, Tacoma
Infield - Tyler Peterson, Lower Columbia
Outfield - Jaxon Davis, Spokane
Outfield - Kyle Parkman, Lower Columbia
Outfield - Kamana Nahaku, Tacoma
Outfield - Titus Dimitru, Linn-Benton
Pitcher - Ryan Lynch, Bellevue
Pitcher - Michael Schwarz, Lower Columbia
Pitcher - Elijah Higginbottom, Tacoma
Pitcher - Chase Reynolds, Linn-Benton
Relief Pitcher - Dylan Watts, Tacoma