Needing a key stretch of good play to cement itself as playoff contenders, the Kentridge High baseball team got just that last week.
Behind a variety of big performances, the Chargers won four of five South Puget Sound League North Division games last week to improve to 8-3 in league play entering Tuesday afternoon’s round of contests. The four wins helped the Chargers move into second place in the standings with three games to go. The top five teams from the North advance to the postseason. Though the four wins didn’t guarantee the Chargers of a playoff spot just yet, it put them in strong position to clinch within days.
Kentridge opened the week with a 13-2 trouncing of Kent-Meridian on Monday. Kyle Leady continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a home run.
On Tuesday, Ben Krueger got into the offensive act, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI in a 12-2 win over the Royals. Axl Snure supplied the biggest bat of all, going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.
Kentridge continued its pace on Wednesday as Ian Buckles out dueled Kentlake ace Ryne Shelton in a 4-3 win. Buckles picked up the win on the mound and also delivered a solo home run in the victory.
After a day off Thursday, Auburn Riverside momentarily cooled Kentridge, 4-3. Kentridge, however, bounced back on Saturday with a 9-5 victory over the Ravens. Leady finished the week the same way he began it, with a home run. Leady went 2-for-4 in the win with three runs scored, a double and the home run. Joe Wainhouse also added a home run and three RBIs in three trips to the plate.
• ALSO: Kentwood, the SPSL North favorite entering the week, hit a major stumbling block last week, dropping three games in a row before knocking off Auburn on Friday, 12-2. The Conquerors opened the week with an 11-5 loss to Auburn before falling to Tahoma on both Tuesday (10-0) and Thursday (10-8). The Class 4A defending state champions bounced back on Friday with their win over the Trojans. Reese McGwire led the offense, going 2-for-2 with a double, triple and four RBIs. Cash McGwire and J.T. Evenson both collected three hits in the win. Kentwood entered the week tied for four place in the SPSL North standings. … Kentlake remained in the playoff hunt despite losing three of five games last week. The Falcons opened the week with a bang, hammering Auburn 14-4. Dylan Wright went 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs in the win. Kentlake was unable to continue the momentum, falling to Kentridge 4-3 on Wednesday and then 9-8 to Auburn on Thursday. The Falcons bounced back Friday with a 7-0 win over Mount Rainier as Quinton Hartman picked up the win on the mound. DJ Elmer delivered three hits and two RBIs in the win. Tanner Lucas and Ryne Shelton added two hits apiece in the win. Kentlake, however, was unable to slow first-place Tahoma on Saturday in an 11-4 loss. Reed Johnson and Brian Olson both homered for the Bears in the win.
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