Northeast 49ers Cap 24-Win Season at State Tournament

The Northeast AAA 49ers closed out a successful summer with a 1-2 showing at the American Legion Senior Baseball State Tournament, finishing the season with an over- all record of 24-11. Northeast opened tournament play with a 6-2 loss to Lakeside Legion on Saturday, July 25, rebounded to edge Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 5-4 the following morning and then saw its season end with a 9-5 extra-inning loss to Flames Baseball Club on Monday.

The 49ers collected 19 hits and scored 12 runs across the three games. Against Lakeside, Northeast fell behind in the opening inning but remained within striking distance through the middle of the game. The 49ers pushed two runs across in the top of the fifth, cutting Lakeside’s advantage to 3-2, before Lakeside responded with three runs in the sixth.

Kyle Bradfield and Luke Bateman each went 2-for-3 to lead Northeast’s seven-hit effort. Miles Krausz doubled, while Jet Bateman and Cody Adams each drove in a run. Jace Lovato also added a hit. Bradfield started on the mound and allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out six. Travis Wellhausen and Josh Shope combined to finish the game. Lakeside pitcher Jay Baxter limited Northeast to two runs, one earned, while striking out eight in a complete-game performance.

The 49ers bounced back Sun day with a 5-4 victory over Yakima Valley. After two scoreless innings, Northeast broke through with a run in the third and then scored four times in the fourth to take a 5-0 advantage. Yakima Valley answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and mounted a final rally with two more in the seventh, but Northeast held on for the one-run victory. Six different 49ers recorded a hit.

Krausz, Jet Bateman, Bradfield, Luke Bateman, Lovato and Patrick McGuire each reached safely with a base hit. Bradfield and Gus Schatz drove in runs, while McGuire scored twice. The 49ers were also aggressive on the basepaths, receiving stolen bases from Krausz, Jet Bateman, Luke Bateman and McGuire. Brayden Payette earned the victory after working 6⅔ innings. He surrendered nine hits but held Yakima Valley to four runs, only two of which were earned, and struck out five. Shope recorded the final out to preserve the victory. Northeast’s tournament run ended Monday in a back-and-forth matchup with Flames Baseball Club.

The Flames scored once in the second inning, twice in the third and once in the fourth. Northeast answered with four runs in the bottom of the third to briefly pull even. Both teams scored in the seventh, sending the game into an eighth inning tied at 5-5. The Flames then broke the game open with four runs in the top of the eighth and kept Northeast off the scoreboard in the bottom half. Krausz led the 49ers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Bradfield also finished 2-for-4 and drove in a run.

Schatz knocked in two runs, while Jet Bateman and Conner Lyng each added an RBI. Adams doubled and scored Northeast’s other run. Adams started on the mound and struck out seven over 6⅓ innings. He allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits. Colton Hansen and Grady Skok pitched in relief. Bradfield finished the tournament 5-for-10 at the plate, while Krausz went 4-for-13 with a double, a triple and three runs scored. Luke Bateman added three hits during the weekend. Despite coming up short of advancing further at state, the 49ers concluded the summer with 24 victories and a winning percentage of .686.