Eagles fly over the Chargers, winning 6 games in a row

The Federal Way Eagles closed out an excellent month of March on the baseball diamond by beating the Kentridge Chargers 14-2 on the final day of the month. The Eagles won six games in a row.

“I feel like we are in a good spot going into the tough 4A part of our schedule. Kentridge swept us last year and we felt like we had some business to take care of,” said Eagle Head Coach Ron Sherwin.

Last Friday’s game was an odd result for scoreboard watchers, as Federal Way had to come from behind the night before to take down the Chargers winning 5-4.

“It’s always good to bounce back after yesterday, I felt like we kind of stole one. The boys were focused today,” said Sherwin.

The Eagles sit a game behind Tahoma and Kennedy Catholic with a 7-1 record. That one blemish was against Emerald Ridge on March 15, the Jaguars blanked the Eagles in that game. Since that day, the Eagles have won six consecutive games. Over that span, the Eagles are outsourcing their opponents 39-11.

“These games are what matter to us. They knew the message, they came out and responded,” Sherwin said.

A significant difference in the latter game is the Eagles put up eight runs before Kentridge could even pick up the sticks. In the inning, 12 Eagle batters came to plate, there were five hits all singles and just one walk. On top of that traffic, the Chargers committed a single error that led to four runs coming across over the next three batters. Thoma Holden singled twice in the first and drove in the final two runs in the inning.

“We’ve been kind of struggling to get off on the right foot, especially early in games. So it felt good to throw the first punch today,” Holden said.

In the home half of the first, Kentridge was able to respond. It was just a single run, but Kentridge showed some fight. With none out, the Chargers loaded the bases but Austin Crawford would limit Kentridge to just a single run retiring the next three batters in a row.

The next runs scored would be of the green and gold variety of the Kentridge Chargers. A leadoff triple and an RBI groundout would get the Chargers to win in six. After two innings Federal Way led 8-2.

With two outs in the third, the Eagles’ Luke Koenig reached on an error. Jay O’Neill followed with a single, and Thoma Holden reached on a walk. Isaiah Afework drove in Koenig with an infield single beating the throw for the shortstop increasing the Eagle margin to 9-2.

From the third inning on Eagle starting pitcher Austin Crawford would sit down eight out of the next nine Kentridge batters. The game was Crawford’s first complete game all season, his previous appearance against Union he was taken out one out shy of a complete game at Husky Ballpark in Seattle. The Tacoma Community College Commit has been on fire this year with an ERA under three at 2.81.

Federal Way’s next big inning was at the top of the fifth. With one out in the frame, the Eagles recorded seven base hits out of eight batters. It started with Koenig, O’Neill, and Holden who loaded the bases. Just like in the third, Afework notched an RBI single. This time two came around to score, Koenig and O’Neill. Joseph Krahner kept the line moving with a single to load the bases.

Crawford drove in the next Eagle run with a sac fly getting the Eagles to mercy rule territory up 12-2. Nate Peterson drove in a run on a single to left field increasing the lead. The final run of the contest was scored on an Orlando Young single to right scoring Krahner capping the scoring 14-2.

“They had some different arms come into the game. We hadn’t faced a lefty this year, so it felt good to get that out of the way,” said Holden.

In the home half, Crawford sat down the Chargers in order to go the distance allowing 2 runs, both were earned and struck out five and allowed just two hits.

Over the entire game, 10 FW batters reached base, eight Eagles recorded base hits and four had multi-RBI games. It was one of the more complete games the Eagles have played all season.

“We haven’t had that consistency and production up to this point. It’s been a work in progress for us. But we’ve got some boys that can swing the bat,” Sherwin said.

With the Eagles on spring break, the student-athletes can focus a little more on baseball with the break from school. That focus is seen in the kids’ play as well. ”We feel great, we’re ready for more. But we have a lot of tough games coming up,” said Holden.

Federal Way takes Auburn Mountainview for a single game on April 4, but then takes on undefeated Kennedy Catholic 10-11.