BREWSTER — Under a sweltering Brewster sun, the Ilwaco baseball team sank into an offensive drought and were shutout 2-0 in the first round of the 2B WIAA state playoffs by Northwest Christian (Colbert) last weekend.

The loss ended an impressive season for the Fishermen (14-5), who captured their first Pacific League Championship and finished second in the district before losing in the single-elimination regional round of the state tournament Saturday, May 20 at Brewster High School. The 2023 season caps the most successful two-year run in program history, where the Fishermen baseball team reached the state playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time.

IHS bats fall silent

Northwest Christian (16-6) relied on strong pitching from sophomore Kaden Van Dyke, who held the Fishermen scoreless. It was only the second time Ilwaco was shutout this season, including an 8-0 loss to Adna in April.

The Crusaders scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, which would be all they would get on Ilwaco junior starting pitcher Jacob Rogers, who delivered an impressive performance despite the loss.

The Fishermen’s best scoring opportunity came in their final at-bat, when Rogers and Kyle Morris both reached first and second, before three consecutive outs ended the game.

The junior-laded Fishermen will lose two seniors to graduation, including pitcher/first baseman Kaeden Lyster and outfielder Alex Hillard. Both Lyster and Hillard were invited to participate in the senior all-star game at Lower Columbia Community College later this month.