Men’s baseball places fifth at NWAACC tournament

The Saints went into the postseason NWAACC baseball tournament hoping to repeat last year’s run to the title game, only with hopes this time of bringing the trophy home with them.

Unfortunately, their recently hot bats were struck cold at the wrong time in the playoffs held in Longview, Wash. The Saints went 1-2, taking fifth place overall.

MHCC tried setting the right tone, starting their rain-delayed weekend with a 1-0 victory over Tacoma Community College.

Unfortunately, the winning ended there. Drawing the Everett Community College Trojans in the second round proved to be too tough for the Saints, who fell 3-0, putting them in single-elimination territory.

Saints sophomore starter Eric Huson threw eight solid innings in the loss, allowing only one earned run in his time on the bump.

“I thought the toughest draw in the tournament was facing their ace,” said MHCC head coach Bryan Donohue, speaking of Everett’s starter, Josh Kimborowicz.

Donohue analyzed his team’s struggles to make a deep run in the tournament, played at Lower Columbia Community College.

“We didn’t hit. We struggled offensively against some tough arms, but we never did much to put pressure on anyone. But, (we) still found ourselves in position to win those games,” he said.

After the loss to Everett, MHCC squared off against Bellevue to determine who would be back in the hunt for the title, and who would be sent home.

The offense never quite came around for the Saints, as they fell short 7-3 to the Bulldogs.

Although they only went 1-2 at NWAACCs, Donohue made special mention of how proud he was that his team showed a lot of maturity and were able to stay focused in any situation they faced.

With another Southern Region title under its belt in 2013, MHCC looks to come back hungry next season with its sights set on more success in the postseason.

“I think the guys coming back next year will be key. A few of them already played big roles for us this year,” said Donohue. “The returning players will be good leaders, and we feel good about the group coming in, as well as the rest of the recruiting left to do.

“Two starters, as well as two bullpen guys, helps us return half of our pitching staff, along with other key pieces and a transfer student coming in to catch who already has experience in the NWAACC,” he said.

As far as this year’s second-year players, while nothing is set in stone, Donohue expects “most” of his guys to find action again on the diamond in one place or another, come next season.

He described his contact with his current roster as “nonstop” via phone, email and such, as well as being in close contact with coaches interested in bringing those players to their programs next season.

The players probably will know within a month or so what their future plans are, he said. But, another spring goes in the books for the Saints, with aspirations of going farther again next May.

Several Saints were honored by the NWAACC for their strong play this season, meanwhile.

They include sophomore outfielder Ryan Degner, named most valuable player in the Southern region. Donohue won coach of the year in the Southern region.

Sophomore pitchers Huson, Zev Egli and Jon Bjorkland were named to the Southern Region All-League First Team. Infielders Cole Hamilton, Cody Childs and Jake Thran, outfielders Shea Coates and Hunter Weiss and pitcher Zane Bambusch were all named to Southern Region All-League Second Team.