Baseball: Federal Way falls to Kentwood in SPSL North crossover game

Published 5:56 pm Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Federal Way’s baseball team hadn’t suffered a loss since March 24, when Kentwood sent them away with a 4-3 defeat.

On Monday, Kentwood once again went home the victors, defeating the Eagles 3-1 in a South Puget Sound League North crossover game.

Kentwood sent to the mound their ace, Jordan Jones, who’s one of the best pitchers in the state. Jordan Jones had posted a sub-2.00 ERA in eight appearances coming into the game.

Federal Way started their standout junior Calvin Turchin, who posted a 2.20 ERA in seven appearances this season. He was 5-1 on the year, his only loss being to Kentwood on March 24.

The Conquerors struck quickly in the top of the first.

Turchin walked Isaac Hegamin to start the inning, and Hegamin moved up to second on a fielder’s choice during the second at bat.

He advanced to third on another ground ball. Another walk put runners on the corners and allowed Kentwood to gamble on a play designed to allow Hegamin to steal home.

Daniel Tanaka took off for second and purposely got himself caught in a run down. Meanwhile, Hegamin took off for home and crossed the plate before the tag of Tanaka was made, giving Kentwood a 1-0 lead.

Ben Koler started the bottom of the inning off for Federal Way by getting hit by a pitch. He reached second on a groundout by Christian Jones, but that was as far as he’d get – a strikeout and a pop out ended the inning.

It was a sign of things to come for the Eagles against Jordan Jones.

Turchin quickly retired all three batters in the top half of the second inning. Jordan Jones responded by striking out the side in the bottom half of the inning.

“That’s probably one of, if not the top arm,” said Federal Way head coach Arlo Evasick. “He’s throwing three pitches for strikes; throwing backwards when he needs to to hitters that can hurt him in the lineup. He did a really good job of executing his game plan. That’s the best arm we’ve seen in awhile.”

Federal Way did put Jordan Jones in one tough spot in the bottom of the third.

Tyler Praven, who was the most successful batter for Federal Way in the game, hit a one-out single into the gap in left-center field. Koler followed that with a single of his own, while Christian Jones walked to load the bases.

Jordan Jones withstood the pressure, however, striking out Eduardo Peraza and and getting Gabe Togia to fly out to end the inning with their 1-0 lead intact.

Turchin cruised through the second, third and fourth innings, surrendering just one hit and three walks. The fifth inning was not nearly as kind to him.

Tyler Tan singled to open the inning for the Conquerors. Two batters later, Hegamin singled. A wild pitch moved him and Tan to second and third.

Shane McGuire singled to bring home Kentwood’s second run of the night, and Turchin was replaced on the mound by Kyle Williams.

“Turchin was up in the zone a little bit early,” said Evasick. “He was just a little up, probably a little nervous. He made some pitches, but he probably walked almost as many guys today as he did all season long. We had kind of an errant throw on the first and third play, and a questionable foul tip into the glove on a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out were the three runs we allowed. We can’t afford to give up those runs against a pitcher like [Jordan Jones].”

Ben Wadowski’s sacrifice fly scored another run for the Conquerors, but Williams was able to get out of the inning without any more damage being done.

The Federal Way bats were still cold in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Jones walked and stole second, but they couldn’t get him home. Togia drilled a ball into left field, but it was directly at the left fielder for the final out.

The situation looked grim for the Eagles as Jordan Jones picked up another three strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth.

Trailing 3-0 still going into the bottom of the seventh, Federal Way threatened to make a big rally.

Praven got his second hit off Jordan Jones to start the inning, leading to the end of night for the pitcher. Trenton Harris stepped onto the mound in his place.

A wild pitch moved Praven to second base, but Koler and Christian Jones both struck out looking. Peraza was next to bat and was hit by a pitch.

Togia delivered the biggest hit of the night for the Eagles when he singled to left-center field to bring home the Eagles’ only run.

Dawson Bakker was walked and the Eagles had the tying run on base.

The Conquerors made a pitching change again, this time to Dyson Johnson. Johnson closed the door by getting Mark Wright to line out for the final out of the game.

“I just want them to keep doing what they’re doing, stay loose and not make it bigger than it is,” Evasick said. “The one testament to our guys is that these guys play from first pitch to last like they’re gonna win it, regardless of score.

“Everybody on this team is gonna battle at the plate to get the next guy up. We were a couple of two-out hits away from probably winning the game. But again, tip your hat to Jordan Jones for making big pitches when he needed to.”

With the win, Kentwood (19-2) advanced to face Puyallup (16-4) for the top seed to the district tournament on Thursday after the Mirror’s publishing deadline. Federal Way (17-3) will play the loser for the second and third seeds to districts on Friday.

District playoffs are scheduled to start May 10. Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson will both be playing in winner-to-state games on that day regardless of the outcome of their Friday games.