Comets overcome Orcas Island 6-3, punch ticket to state semifinal
Published 6:47 pm Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Naselle ace Dean Helvey (9) reacts after striking out the final batter against Orcas Island.
SOUTH BEND — On a day when the Naselle defense didn’t dazzle, their senior ace did.
The Naselle baseball team continued their trek toward their third straight state title after overcoming Orcas Island in a 6-3 comeback victory today (Saturday, May 18), in the quarterfinal round of the WIAA 1B State Tournament at Cheney Field in South Bend, led by senior pitcher Dean Helvey (9).
Helvey pitched a complete game, striking out six with no walks over seven innings while also having a game-high three hits at the plate, including two RBIs.
The #2-seed Comets advance to the semifinal round where they will face #3-seed Almira Coulee Hartline on Friday, May 24, at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium in Ephrata.
Big fourth inning propels Comets
The Orcas Island Vikings, based in Eastsound, finished second in their district and entered the state tournament as a #7 seed and had to make a roughly five-hour trip to take on the #2-seed Comets, who traveled less than 30 minutes to Cheney Field for their Saturday matchup in South Bend.
Winners of their last six straight games, a senior-laden Orcas Island squad entered as a confident team, particularly after their narrow first-round victory over #10-seed Pomeroy while the Comets received a first-round bye as district champs.
In the top of the first inning, Viking senior Hayden Sheafer (10) drove in the first run with a two-out RBI single, giving Orcas Island an early 1-0 lead.
The (1-0) score held until the top of the third, when Sheafer — with the benefit of a Naselle error — drove in his second run with his second two-out RBI single, extending the Viking lead to 2-0. Naselle had an uncharacteristic three errors on the day.
In the bottom of the third, Naselle answered with a two-strike RBI single to right field by Helvey, scoring Jack Strange (24) and slicing the Viking lead in half (2-1). Naselle sophomore Leith Chadwick (16) RBI single tied the game (2-2), prompting a mound visit by Orcas Island before Comet junior William Anderson (35) gave Naselle their first lead with a two-RBI single (4-2).
Orcas Island added a run in the top of the fourth, however RBI singles from Helvey, Lindstrom and Chadwick sealed a 6-3 win for the Comets, who advance to the semi-final round, with the winner advancing to the WIAA 1B State Championship.
Up next: The #2-seed Comets advance to the semifinal round where they will face #3-seed Almira Coulee Hartline on Friday, May 24, at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium in Ephrata.