Lynden Lobos 11U squad wins state championship

Nathan Schumock

Sports Editor

WENATCHEE — e

11U Lynden Lobos Cal e Lobos tore through the tournament going 5-1 overall, only su ering one loss to Cashmere.

Ripken team came home as state champions after taking down Port Angeles 10-0 on Saturday, July 8.

Lynden head coach

Dan Vander Kooi said after they scored the nal run in the fourth inning, the boys mobbed the plate in excitement.

" ey were jacked up, it was cool. ey went and mobbed Anthony [Freeman] at home plate and were jumping up and down," Vander Kooi said. e Lobos team started pool play on ursday, July 6, against the Wenatchee All-Stars and blew them out 15-5. On July 7, the Lobos followed up their opening day win with another mercy rule victory as they defeated Ephrata 12-2.

"I think they surprised themselves a little bit."

Lynden su ered a hiccup in their third game against Cashmere dropping it in a mercy rule 16-6 loss. Despite the loss, they had already secured a spot in the semi nal round.

Coming out of pool play they were the twoseed and faced topseeded Moses Lake. e previous year Moses Lake advanced to the national tournament so it was a big test for the Lobos.

Koahn Hersom started the game for the Lobos and Vander Kooi said he pitched the game of his life. e Lobos jumped out to an early lead in the semi nal game scoring ve runs in the rst.

"We came out and just hit the ball. We took our walks when we needed our walks and we ran the bases aggressively. e kids had some really good timely hits," Dan Vander Kooi said. "I don't think our guys were that nervous. ey were just more like, 'What do we have to lose?'"

" ey were really excited the dugout was loud. And so we got out to that lead and never looked back," he said. Hersom went the rst three innings and was dialed in. Case Vander Kooi relieved him after threeand-a-third innings. Case Vander Kooi held the game for the last couple of See Lobos on B2