"River Ridge prevails in 8 innings, then bows out of tourney in 9" -- May 20, 2006

CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

MOUNT VERNON -- Inspired by River Ridge's close games this season and passion to never lose, fans dubbed the Hawks the "never-say-die kids."

But the Hawks could only escape elimination in extra innings once Saturday, losing their second game of the Class 3A state baseball tournament to the Burlington-Edison Tigers 5-4 at the Skagit Valley Dream Field.

The nine-inning loss to the Tigers ended the Hawks' season and came just six hours after edging Seattle Prep 3-2 in eight innings.

Tears slid down several of the players' cheeks while giving and receiving hugs from their misty-eyed coach, Chad Arko, after the game. Other Hawks stood quietly and peered across the field at the celebrating Tigers.

"They've been my sons for four years," Arko said. "They played everything they could for me."

Hawks pitcher Stephen Raudenbush pitched a complete game, giving up five runs and striking out five.

"You couldn't ask anything more from a pitcher," Arko said. "He went about 130 pitches, and I knew he could keep going."

Raudenbush said he never felt tired throughout the game despite his high pitch count.

"That's just flat out playing hard and playing your guts out," Arko said.

The Hawks threatened in the bottom of the ninth after the Tigers jumped ahead 5-2 with three runs in the top half of the inning.

But after scoring two runs and placing runners at second and first, River Ridge third baseman and league MVP Connor Lambert struck out to end the game.

"Down 5-2 in the ninth inning, what do you expect?" Arko said. "You expect a team to roll over, but they didn't."

The Hawks scored only two runs before their extra-inning comeback fell short.

After loading the bases on three consecutive infield hits in the third inning, Lambert smacked a grounder to the right side off the Tigers second baseman's glove, scoring left fielder Kyle McClellan from third.

Hawks catcher Chase Doughty followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in the other run.

"These kids have won two Pac-9 titles, they've got a second place in district -- how many feet away from going to Safeco Field?" Arko said. "It's been a fun ride."

River Ridge came within two strikes of being eliminated from the tournament in their first game against the Panthers.

With two outs and no runners on in the seventh inning, McClellan launched a 2-1 fastball over the "325" sign in left field.

"I could tell our team was getting down -- two outs in the bottom of the seventh," McClellan said. "I was just swinging as hard as I could, trying to make something out of nothing."

Hawks pitcher Seth Harvey started the game and gave up two hits in four innings while striking out two. He also led the team at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.