Hazen baseball drops first game, but stays alive with win over Shelton

Ben Hoeper pitched a complete game and had a home run in the win.

By Brian Beckley • May 9, 2016 6:33 pm
Hazen's Ben Hoeper pitches during the Highlanders' May 7 win over Shelton.
Hazen's Ben Hoeper pitches during the Highlanders' May 7 win over Shelton.

The Hazen Highlanders baseball team this weekend dropped their first playoff game, but won their second to stay alive and make it the next round of play, Wednesday in Tacoma.

Saturday started out a bit rough for Highlanders as they fell 10-0 to the Columbia City Chieftains in their first game of the day.

But in the second, must-win game against Shelton, the Highlanders handed the ball to Ben Hoeper, who not only pitched a complete game, but hit a home run en route to Hazen’s 12-2 win.

Other clutch hits by Nathan Ryan and James Chen during a 5th inning rally to end the game as Hazen hit the 10-run rule.

Hazen plays Bonney Lake in a loser-out game at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Heidelberg Park in Tacoma. Bonney Lake beat Auburn 8-4, but lost to Kelso 2-0 on Saturday.