Searching for their tenth win on the season, the UPrep baseball team took on Bellevue Christian on May 1. The team switched up their typical lineup thoroughly, aiming to give field time to players who hadn’t seen much this year.
“We’re just moving people around and getting everybody’s arms loose before the playoffs,” ninth grade center fielder Paddy Sainsbury said.
Bellevue Christian walked off UPrep to win by a final score of 8-7. The loss pushed the Pumas’ record to 9-6 on the year, including a 7-3 conference record that was good enough for first place in the Emerald Sound Conference as of May 1.
“We believe in each other, and believe that the guy next to you is going to get it done for you,” senior shortstop/pitcher Owen Bradley said.
Two days earlier, the Pumas finished off a sweep of King’s 3-2 at Shorecrest High School. Ninth grade pitcher/second baseman Owen Luke took the hill for the Pumas, surrendering two runs, one of which was earned, on three hits. He struck out six and walked four.
“Owen [Luke] will be the first to tell you he didn’t have his best stuff,” Bradley said. “He was struggling a little bit with command, but he was able to compete; we were able to make a couple plays behind him defensively.”
Offensively, UPrep remained hitless through six innings. Then the Pumas loaded the bases on walks to start the seventh.
“We might not always be the strongest offensive team, but I believe in our team to fight back,” Bradley said. “Our team’s never going to go over easy.”
The next batter up was sophomore outfielder Cole Simon.
“I saw Simon go up, Simon’s had really good at-bats this year,” Bradley said. “I told him, ‘Simon, there’s no one I’d rather have right here. I believe in you.’”
Sainsbury struck out after a walk by junior outfielder Caleb Goldberg, setting up Bradley with the bases loaded and two outs.
“It was kind of like the situation you dream of in the backyard,” Bradley said. “You always want to be the hero, but you can’t get too big in that moment.”
Bradley took ball one in the dirt and followed it up with a swing that ended up foul to the left side.
“I was thinking that better not be the last good one I see,” Bradley said.
It wasn’t. Bradley hit the next pitch into left field, scoring two runs and sealing the 3-2 win for the Pumas.
“Everyone on this team has put in so much work going into this season, and when you have a little moment like that, it feels like all the reps in the cages, all the late nights spent lifting, all of that pays off,” Bradley said.
Bradley took the mound for UPrep in the first game on April 27 and threw six innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking four in the Pumas’ 4-2 win. As the district tournament approached, each game became more important.
“These kinds of games, this is why we play baseball,” Bradley said.
King’s got on the board first in the second with a single, but Bradley tied the game in the fifth with a single of his own. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Cole Waterman gave the Pumas the lead with another single, and Luke added a two-run double.
“It was their senior night, so they were chirping me,” Luke said. “I didn’t let it get to me.”
The first two pitches of the at-bat that resulted in Luke’s double were fastballs up and in, out of the zone.
“He wants to give me another fastball, and then it’s barbecue chicken from there,” Luke said.
Waterman locked down the final inning on the mound, securing UPrep’s third straight win.
“We knew we had their number because we swept them last year,” Luke said. “We came up with the mentality that we were better than them, and if we play our stuff, we could beat anybody.”
Before they took on King’s, UPrep completed a sweep of South Whidbey with a 15-0 win on April 22. Before the game, sophomore third baseman Noah Keppler had a lot of confidence in Luke.
“We have Owen Luke on the bump, so expecting a pretty strong start,” Keppler said. “Whatever pitcher they throw out there will probably be a little bit slower.”
UPrep is tied for first place in the league in average run differential with a mark of 2.9.
“I don’t think there’s been any game where the pitching was the reason we lost,” Bradley said. “Every game our pitching has given us a chance to win.”
UPrep tallied 14 total bases, nine walks, and eight stolen bases.
“Offensively, our strength really is getting on base and stealing bases,” coach Damin Bauer said.
Throughout the season, team captains Bradley and senior catcher Grady Stone have created a team culture of “support and accountability,” according to Bauer.
“I think our seniors really want to win, and they’re willing to sacrifice some individual accomplishments to do that,” Bauer said.
On the front end of the series, the Pumas secured a 3-2 victory backed by Bradley, who hurled six innings while giving up two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out ten.
“I can be better attacking the zone,” Bradley said. “We’ve got to convert more with runners in scoring position.”
After surrendering two runs in the first, the Pumas crawled back to tie it in the fifth after ninth grade centerfielder Paddy Sainsbury scored on a wild pitch and sophomore first baseman Wade Suess knocked in a run.
“I think overall it’s a great team win,” Bradley said. “I think we know we can perform better than that.”
Keppler bunted two runners into scoring position with one out in the sixth. After Sainsbury was hit by a pitch, Bradley reached on a fielder’s choice to score the winning run.
“You should come through for your team, especially with last game putting down a good bunt,” Keppler said.
The Pumas ran wild on the bases, swiping seven bags, led by Sainsbury’s three. They also racked up seven walks, led by Stone with three.
Next up for UPrep is their senior night game at home against Seattle Christian at Shorecrest High School on May 4.
