Hazen falls to Columbia River in extra innings | Baseball

The Hazen baseball team lost to Columbia River 5-4 in nine innings Wednesday in the West Central District 3A tournament. The Highlanders (14-6) take on Enumclaw Saturday at 4 p.m. at Heidelberg Park in a loser-out game. With a win, Hazen clinches a berth into the state tournament.

The Hazen baseball team lost to Columbia River 5-4 in nine innings Wednesday in the West Central District 3A tournament.

The Highlanders (14-6) take on Enumclaw Saturday at 4 p.m. at Heidelberg Park in a loser-out game. With a win, Hazen clinches a berth into the state tournament.

Columbia River took an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. After that inning, Hazen’s Jake Kolterman settled down and threw five shutout innings.

Kolterman hit a home run in the fifth to get Hazen on the board. Columbia River added another run in the seventh on a bases-loaded balk.

Zac Kolterman and Tyler Wicks had RBI to lead Hazen back to a tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. Columbia River took the lead again in the ninth on another bases-loaded balk.

Hazen outhit Columbia River seven to three, but left 13 runners on base.

This isn’t the first time close balk calls have hurt the Highlanders in the playoffs. Hazen was eliminated from the playoffs last season when a Highlander game-winning double was called back because the umpires called a late balk on the opposing pitcher.

The game briefly got emotional in the second inning when the Columbia River first base coach and a Hazen player got into a heated discussion.