BASEBALL: Federal Way eliminates Kentridge, 5-4

The miracle season came to an end for the Kentridge High baseball team late Thursday night.

The Chargers could not hold on to a 3-0 lead after three innings and fell to Federal Way at Art Wright Memorial Field 5-4 in a loser-out West Central/Southwest 4A Bi-District tournament game.

Kentridge (14-9) advanced to the winner-to-state game thanks to a 7-1 victory over Kentlake Tuesday afternoon. The Chargers, however, couldn’t sustain the momentum in a loss to Federal Way, which took third at state a year ago. The Chargers were trying to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.

Early on, it appeared the Chargers would accomplish just that. Joe Wainhourse delivered a two-run single in the first inning, giving Kentridge a quick 2-0 lead. Kentridge pushed its lead to 3-0 in the third on a fielder’s choice out that scored Michael Suguro from third.

Meanwhile, pitcher Nick Hamre was in control on the mound as he was perfect through three innings with six strikeouts.

Federal Way got to Hamre in the fourth. Drew Cratsenberg broke up the no hitter and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Weber. Federal Way added two more runs in the inning to tie the game 3-3. Weber scored on a Kentridge error and Brett Evans later tied the game on a single by Darrien Moran.

Nick Tanielu, Federal Way’s first-team All-League shortstop, put the Eagles up for good in the fifth with a single to right field that scored Cratsenberg. Tanielu came home moments later on a single by Moran, giving Federal Way a 5-3 lead.

Kentridge cut the deficit to 5-4 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to left field by Sheldon Stober that scored Axl Snure.

Kentridge’s Kyle Leady led off the seventh with a double, but was left stranded.