4/22/16
Olympia 6, Capital 0
(Olympia, WA) There is no bigger rivalry in Thurston County than when the Capital Cougars play Olympia Bears. The day was also the annual Bears Military Appreciation day honoring the namesake of the baseball field Colonel Crandall. Crandall was not on hand recovering from surgery but family members were in attendance. Olympia also celebrated former Olympia Coaches Todd McDougall who passed away 2 years ago after battling cancer and retired coach Greg Creighton who also jumped on our broadcast today as a guest commentator.
The Bears also had a 2-game losing streak they wanted to snap even though it was a non-league game beating the Cougars was a priority. Capital meantime, could easily be distracted after coming up with a huge win over Central Kitsap and pulled into a 1st place tie in the Narrows 3A. Both teams have big league games next week and the Bears clearly wanted to put a 2-game losing streak in their rear view mirror.
Olympia got on the board in the 2nd inning after it looked like Cougar starting pitcher Aidan Short would make “short” work of the Bears with a pair of strikeouts and an 0-2 count on James Gunther when Short came inside and plunked Gunther putting him on 1st. Jamie Bautista then stepped up with a blast to center for an RBI double. Tristan Haider then grounded one hard to 3rd and through the wickets it went of Peyton Greene and Bautista scored making it 2-0.
The Bears added 2 more in the bottom of the 4th when Gunther again was hit by a pitch and sent to 1st with 1 out. Bautista again unloaded a double and Gunther would be held at 3rd. Haider then singled driving in a run making it 3-0. Scott Gunther then laid down a perfect bunt scoring Batista and after 4 innings it was 4-0 Bears.
Olympia would finish off the scoring in the bottom of the 6th and James Gunther would score for the 3rd time by belting his 3rd home run in as many games. Gunther drove the pitch over the left field wall into the OHS parking lot. Bautista then walked and also scored for the 3rd time when he stole 2nd and then scored on a Scott Gunther walk. Gunther walked on a wild pitch sending Bautista to 3rd. As Gunther got to 1st he took a huge turn at 1st and headed for 2nd drawing a throw allowing Bautista to score making it 6-0.
Our Tommy Lowe of the Greene Realty Group Players of the Game were Jamie Bautista for the Bears and Jacob Loose for the Cougars. Loose had a hit and solid defensive play to earn the award. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to Ben Pedigo who turned a beautiful double play in the 5th inning by snagging a hard line drive and throwing to 1st picking off a runner who took off with the hit. Pedigo also was in charge of organizing the Military Appreciation Day.
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