SOUTH BEND — Mossyrock’s offense was held to just two hits and struck out 11 times as the Vikings couldn’t find a way to keep up with Naselle in an 11-10 loss in six innings during the 1B District IV championship game in South Bend on Wednesday.
Mossyrock now heads to a district-crossover game with District ½, and will face the winner of Darrington and Orcas Island in a loser-out, winner-to-regionals game on Saturday.
Naselle clinched an automatic bid to regionals with Wednesday’s victory.
“We’ll flush this one,” Mossyrock coach Darren Kolb said. “We just didn’t really come ready to play the game. We had two hits the whole game.”
The Vikings — who were playing in their first district title game since 2011 — took their third loss of the season to their league rival Comets after losing 4--0 and 5-2 in the regular season. While the other two were tight matchups, Wednesday’s game was all Naselle.
The Comets — who finished with 11 total hits — struck early, hammering out three runs in the bottom of the first before plating two more in the third and five in the sixth to end the game early with a run-rule victory.
Mossyrock, meanwhile, struggled to reach base, collecting just two hits and two walks as Naselle starter Kolten Lindstrom kept them off balance. Lindstrom went the distance and finished with 11 Ks.
Easton Kolb had both hits for Mossy, going 2 for 3 on the day. Gunner Mulligan and Hunter Isom eached walked once.
Naselle’s offense was led by Joe Strange going 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two walks. Lindstrom was 2 for 3 with three runs.
On the mound, Keegan Kolb surrendered three earned runs on four hits and a walk before being taken out in the first inning. Jake Comer tossed 4.1 innings of relief, striking out six and allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks.
RJ Workman went one inning, giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks, while Nayson West pitched the final ⅓ of an innings with one walk.
“I thought Jake Comer pitched a good game,” Darren Kolb said. “He kept them off the bases and tried some other kids out towards the end of the game to save our pitchers for Saturday.”
Orcas Island and Darrington play on Thursday, with the winner moving on to face Mossyrock on Saturday at a time and location yet to be determined.
