Eagles use long ball to down Gators

" Travis Ishikawa's lead-off home run in the first inning was only the beginning of a barrage of dingers by the Eagles. Is it even possible to cork an aluminum bat? Hard-hitting Federal Way batters swatted a total of six home runs - two by Brady Everett, one by Nick Batkoski, one by Donny Farris, one by Shea McFeely and one by Ishikawa - on their way to a 9-1 win over Decatur on Friday at Decatur. The home run is not too important for us, Federal Way coach Eric Fiedler said. We're going to hit the ball hard. If it goes out, that's fortunate. But we're not swinging for the fences. Federal Way improved its South Puget Sound League record to 5-0 while Decatur fell to 1-4. As a pitcher, Batkoski (2-0) threw a complete game, allowed three hits and struck out two. Decatur pitcher Brett Lusebrink (1-1) struck out four batters, picked off a runner at first base and allowed five runs on seven hits. You can't win without pitching, but we've got a squad that can put up runs, Batkoski said. Batkoski was pitching for the first time after he suffered a back injury in the win against Rogers. I take my hat off to Nick (Batkoski), Fiedler said. He hasn't been real confident with his health lately, but he got stronger as the game went on. When he sees an opportunity to close the door, he'll close it. The Gators tied the game 1-1 in the second inning, when Lusebrink hit a two-out double that scored Matt Ristine. But it was the only run the Gators would score all day. I'm never going to accept losing, but if a team's going to beat us swinging the bat, so be it, Decatur coach Jeff Housman said. We played mistake free. They hit the ball. We didn't. If these kids believe, we'll make the playoffs. I'll put my neck out on the line and say that about them. I'll go to the grave for these kids. They work too hard. Once we learn how to win, we'll be fine. "

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