Getting solid pitching, hitting and defense, the Thurston County Saints were just too good to lose last weekend at the Triple Crown Regional.
After beating the Federal Way Knights 10-2 in the quarterfinals and the Seattle Select 8-4 in the semifinals, the TC Saints defeated the Seattle Stars 3-2 on Monday to win the regional baseball championship for the 14-year-old division at Tacoma’s Heidelberg Park.
With the tying run on first base in the top of the seventh inning, Saints center fielder Blake Nystrom made a sensational diving catch then threw out the runner at first base for a game-ending double play.
The Saints, who outscored opponents 71-12 in the tournament, will head for the national world series at Denver, Colorado, at the end of the month.
“We had pretty much blown out everyone up to that point,” TC Saints coach Michael Spencer said. “We were kind of hoping for a close game. You want games that will prepare you for Colorado.”
Spencer and the Saints got their wish.
Against a hard-hitting Seattle Stars team, the TC Saints turned three double plays and catcher Brennon Aleihawea threw out two base runners.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Seattle Stars tied the score 2-2 in the fifth and the Saints scored the winning run in the sixth.
It was a special win for the Saints. It was their 100th game together in two years and they are now a remarkable 90-10.
“This is a special team,” Spencer said. “They’re very coachable kids. They’ve got it. They know how to play.”
The TC Saints will play in tournaments over the next two weekends before heading to the national Triple Crown world series in Colorado. They’ll defend their UAAASA state championship title this weekend at the RAC in Lacey, playing at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Spencer said the Saints are loaded with pitchers. With everyone on the roster available to pitch, Spencer doesn’t have to rely on just one or two arms to carry his team through a tournament.
“The philosophy is to throw strikes, get outs and get off the field,” Spencer said. “We try to go first pitch strike. We pitch to contact. That’s our philosophy. Don’t try to strike guys out. Just pitch to contact. Our outfield is as good as it gets. They go and get things. So, if you can’t throw strikes, you may not pitch for two more weeks.”
Besides solid pitching and solid defense, the TC Saints have been a scoring machine. The team’s philosophy on the bases is run, run and run.
“What we do is run the bases well,” Spencer said. “If there’s a ball in the dirt, we’ll go for another base. We’re one of the top UAAASA teams in the country as far as runs scored and runs allowed.”
It’s been a winning formula. In April, the TC Saints won the USSSA NIT spring challenge championship at Mesa, Ariz., beating Peoria 9-2 in the championship game.
Players on the team are: Devonn Quitugua, Ryan Jones, Tony Ortiz, Dallas Padilla, Blake Nystrom, Jackson Spencer, Braden Rushton, Matt Mercer, Brendan Illies, Thomas Reay, Eric Daniel, Cody Fallon, Ian Sugrue, Dylan Wharton, Bailey Smith, Brennon Aleihawea, Luke Hare, Zack Owens and Elijah Hill. Coaches are Michael Spencer, Rob Ortiz, Sean Sugrue, Don Monson and Clay Hill.
