In a highly anticipated non-league matchup, the Redmond Mustangs reeled off their seventh straight win with an offense-powered 11-5 victory over the No. 1-ranked Bishop Blanchet Braves in class 3A.
Zach Abbruzza had another solid outing against a loaded offense, giving up an early run in the second before settling down and shutting out the Braves through the fifth inning for his third win.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs’ bats came alive in the fourth as the Mustangs plated six runs, highlighted by Matt Kimmel mashing an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homerun, and in the next inning, Abbruzza helped his own cause by launching a three-run blast of his own to left-center, increasing the Mustangs’ lead to 10 runs.
Kimmel had a perfect 3-for-3 night with three RBIs, Abbruzza drove in four, and Josh Bircher and Peter Hendron both notched two hits.
With the win, Redmond improved to 9-2 on the season overall and remain tied for the lead in the Crest Division with Newport at 6-1.
They play again tonight at 6 p.m. against Ballard at Hartman Park.
REDMOND FASTPITCH BOUNCED BY JUANITA
In a non-league matchup last Friday at Perrigo Park, the visiting 3A Rebels scored six in the first inning en route to a 13-3 win over the Mustangs.
Redmond answered back in the second with RBI base hits by Riley Flynn and Christine Ho for three runs to cut the lead in half, but Juanita ace Allison Rhodes stymied the ‘Stangs from that point forward, striking out 13 batters.
For Redmond, Riley Flynn paced the offense, going 2-for-4.
With the loss, the Mustangs dropped to 3-2 on the season and remained 0-1 in league play, with their second conference game tonight at 4:30 p.m. against Garfield at home.
MUSTANG TENNIS EDGES LW
Redmond used strong performances by its top singles players and winning two of three doubles matches to sneak past Lake Washington, 4-3, in a 4A Kingco tennis match last Friday at Redmond High School.
Highlights included No. 1 Sarah Du beating Kelly Watanabe in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, No. 2 Raluca Ifrin winning the first set 6-0 en route to a forfeit win, and the doubles teams of Darien French-Owen/Janeal Carter (6-1, 6-2) and Sarah Boye/Marissa Craig (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) taking their matches in the team win.
