Mustangs handle Newport, earn trip to state for third straight season


May 8, 2012 · 9:35 AM

After an 0-7 start to the season, the Redmond High School baseball team is headed back to the Class 4A state tournament.

Senior Peter Hendron pitched a complete-game one-hitter as the Mustangs beat Newport, 9-1, in a Kingco 4A tournament semifinal playoff game Monday at Woodinville High School.

Redmond won for the 14th time in its last 15 games to earn a trip to state for the third straight spring and for the fifth time in six seasons.

The Mustangs (14-8) take on Issaquah (13-8) in the Kingco 4A tournament finals at 7 p.m. Thursday at Woodinville High. The Eagles beat Bothell, 7-3, in Monday's other semifinal game. Both Redmond and Issaquah have clinched state berths.

Washington State-bound senior Pate McGrath kept swinging a hot bat in the playoffs for the Mustangs, going 3 for 3, including a home run, with two RBIs and three runs scored. McGrath is 5 for 5 with 4 RBIs in Redmond's two Kingco playoff wins against Newport and Woodinville.

Redmond’s Kyle Francis went 2 for 3, including a three-run triple in the Mustangs' five-run first inning. Teammate Lucas Eliason went 2 for 4, including a bases-loaded, two-run single in the first inning.

Hendron (4-2), who pitched a perfect game earlier in the season and will attend Santa Clara University next year, gave up only one hit — a two-out solo home run to Newport’s Nate Anderson in the third inning.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.