Ballard baseball stuns Redmond, ends Mustangs’ seven-game win streak

Looking past its 3-5 league record, the Ballard High School baseball team can truly be called a giant-killer as the Beavers put Redmond’s seven-game win streak to an end Monday night with a 4-2 upset victory at Hartman Park in a 4A Kingco contest.

For the second week in a row, the Beavers knocked off a ranked 4A team.

Newport, a state semifinalist last year, was beaten by Ballard, 8-6, April 6.

On Monday, the Beavers drew first blood with runs in the first and third, adding two more in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead while the Mustangs tried to decipher Ballard ace Ryan Garrett, who went 6 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and striking out eight.

Redmond’s only offense came on a two-run home run by Michael Conforto in the fourth, as the Mustangs could not take advantage of four walks given up by Garrett in the game.

First baseman Zach Abbruzza went 2-for-4 for the Mustangs, who dropped to 6-2 in league play and 9-3 overall.

Rory Graf-Brennen shined for the Beavers, going 3-for-3 with a home run.