WSB PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN
(Sealth 3B Brady Murphy tags out a runner)

ORIGINAL 9:52 PM SUMMARY: In an extra-inning heartbreaker at Steve Cox Memorial Park‘s Mel Olson Stadium, Chief Sealth IHS finished second in the District 2 2A baseball tournament moments ago. Nathan Hale defeated Chief Sealth 5-1, but the game was closer than the score reveals; the Seahawks had the lead 1-0 going into the seventh, then the Raiders tied it, and Hale blew it open in the top of the ninth. Details and photos to come; the Seahawks had already secured a state-playoff spot, so their season continues.

HIGHLIGHTS ADDED 12:30 AM: Sealth starting pitcher Sam Popelka (#7, above) had a shutout into the seventh, when, with one out, he gave up an RBI single that tied the game 1-1.

#11 Seth Clark took over in the eighth and got out of that inning unscathed, but then came the ninth. Toward the start of the game, Clark had a memorable battle against Hale starter PJ Sale (#5), battling to a full count and then some before finally drawing a walk.

First baseman Peter Sketchley hits an RBI single in the fourth inning to put the Seahawks ahead.[/caption]

Sealth’s Peter Sketchley (#23, above) had the Seahawks’ lone RBI, a single in the 4th, bringing in Brady Murphy (#14, below), who had originally gotten on base via a walk.

Sealth threatened to score more in the fourth, with two on after #2 Julian Reinhardt drew a walk, but #6 Graham Hull hit an infield fly and that ended the inning. Popelka’s pitching kept them close but Raiders pitcher Sale hung tough too, including getting himself out of a two-on-nobody-out jam in the sixth.

(CSIHS #5 Oliver Clark signals to the dugout after stealing second)

Both teams have at least a week off now, as opening-round games in the state tournament start on Saturday, May 24 – here’s the bracket that’ll be filled out when the matchups are set. According to Sealth athletic director and baseball head coach Ernest Policarpio, this is the Seahawks’ first trip to state in 40 years.