Right-hander blanks Saints
His curveball wasn’t working, so Newport pitcher Nate Eisenhauer went with a different approach: a steady diet of fastballs.
Thanks to superior command and a bevy of run support, Eisenhauer threw Newport’s first complete game of the season, a 78-pitch, seven-inning, six-hit gem, helping the Knights defeat Interlake 6-0 at Bannerwood Park on April 10.
Eisenhauer struck out six Saints and only allowed one runner to advance past second base.
“I was just trying to work and establish my fastball,” Eisenhauer said after the win. “I just kept throwing it for strikes since my curveball wasn’t working. We’ve been in kind of a slump the last few games so it felt good.”
Eisenhauer allowed two hits in the first inning, but countered by striking out the side in the second.
“We needed that from him,” said Newport head coach Brian Fischer. “We wanted to run him out there a little bit and see what he could do. He was doing a great job of locating his pitches and getting ahead of the hitters.”
The senior right-hander was also the benefactor of an awakened Newport offense. The six runs scored for the Knights (8-5 overall, 6-3 KingCo 3A) was the most in the teams last five games.
Leading the way was WSU-bound senior Collin Bennett, who went 2 for 3 with a triple in the fifth inning off of Interlake pitcher Matt Allan that scored two runs to give Newport a commanding 4-0 lead.
“I was just sitting on fastball and he gave it to me,” Bennett said. “Our bats are just starting to come alive and now we see what we can do.”
Allan pitched a strong game for the Saints (2-9, 1-8) despite taking the loss, allowing five hits and five runs in five innings of work. The junior also struck five.
“Matt pitched well enough to win like he has all year,” said Interlake head coach Pete Orgill. “We just couldn’t get hits when it counted. We got guys on, but couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”
That wasn’t the case for the Knights, as Bennett, Colin Hering, Ned Jones and Oregon State recruit Blake Gibbs all picked up RBIs for Newport.
The win helped the Knights remain in fourth place in KingCo as the season hits the half-way point.
“Our pitching and defense has been strong and we’re starting to swing the bats well,” said Fischer, who picked up his 201st win as Newport’s coach with victory. “The conference is pretty even this year and nobody is going to run away with it. That’s why we need to come to play everyday.”
Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-4270 ext 5060 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com.
NOTES
*Bennett, a talented football, basketball and baseball player, confirmed after the game he will play baseball at Washington State University next season. The senior was a All-KingCo performer in both football and basketball for the Knights this season.
*Newport’s 5-2 win over Sammamish on April 8th was Fischer’s 200th as the head coach of the Knights. Fischer is in his 12th season with the Knights.
BASEBALL ROUNDUP
Issaquah 12, Sammamish 5 on April 10
Spencer Rogers was a triple short of the cycle for the Eagles, as he knocked in two runs to help Issaquah flatten Sammamish. The Eagles (5-4, 4-4) scored in every inning except for the second. Ross Kulczyk took the loss for the Totems (1-9, 1-8).
Mount Si 4, Interlake 2 on April 11
The Saints couldn’t hold on to an early 2-1 lead as Mount Si (5-4, 5-3) scored three late runs and beat Interlake 4-2. Danny Cavanaugh went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs for the Wildcats.
Eastside Catholic 10, Moscow High School 2
Spenser Payne, Mike Englund and Matt Boyd all homered and Cal Towey went 3 for 3 with a double to help Eastside Catholic get a big win over Moscow High School in a game played at Washington State University.
T.J. Parthemer improved his record to 5-0 on the season with the win for the Crusaders. Parthemer struck out seven batters in the win. Eastside Catholic improves to 11-1 overall on the season and remains undefeated at 8-0 in the Metro League Mountain Division.
Bellevue Christian 13, Seattle Lutheran 3 on April 12
The Vikings scored five runs in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie and added five more in the fourth and two in the fifth to beat Seattle Lutheran 13-3 in a five inning contest at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.
Jeremy Bohnett went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs for the Vikings (6-3, 4-2 Emerald City League). Ryan Fitzpatrick picked up the win for Bellevue Christian, while Conner Mullan was tagged with the loss for Seattle Lutheran.
