ACH Legion opens with 3-1 mark at AA state tourney

SPOKANE VALLEY — The American Legion Baseball Washington AA State Championship began Saturday, with Almira/Coulee-Hartline advancing on through their side of the bracket at University High School in Spokane Valley. 

“We haven’t proven anything — there's no reason to come into this state tournament being nervous, you just have to prove yourself every day,” head coach Mike Correia said.

After back-to-back wins over Lynden and Yakima Valley on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, ACH took on Spokane Valley in the quarterfinals of the Division B bracket, falling 6-3 to the Titans. ACH took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after first baseman Grayson Beal sent home shortstop Caden Correia — who opened the game with a triple 0151 but Spokane Valley capitalized off two Warrior errors and a passed ball to take a 4-1 advantage in the bottom of the first.

“We’ve got to back up our pitchers when that happens,” Mike said. “You know you’re going to have a hit every once in a while, but if you couple that with an error and a walk, then you’re in trouble ... I watched (Spokane Valley) do that to Burlington (Sunday) night, exact same stuff.”  

The defensive miscues led to struggles at the plate, Mike said. ACH didn’t score any more runs until the bottom of the seventh inning, and the lone Warrior walk came when third baseman Jameson Conley was hit by a pitch in the top of the seventh.  

“It started putting ourselves on our heels a little bit, even offensively,” Mike said. “We started getting a little tight — that's what we did to the other teams, we got them tight. We beat two really good teams, and not that this team isn’t good, but we tightened up and helped them out a little bit.”  

ACH was able to get runners on base in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings; Conley and center fielder Harvest Parrish both singled in the top of the sixth, while designated hitter Hunter Flaa, right fielder Max Grindy and catcher Kaysen Pryor all reached first on Titan errors. Second baseman Jase Cox delivered a two-RBI single in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 6-3, but Caden grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game two at-bats later.  

“You’re looking for somebody to spark us, and fortunately in the top of the seventh we had someone spark us,” Mike said. “All of a sudden you get to the end of the lineup and back up to the top, and you’re hoping guys can come through. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”  

ACH dropped down into the loser’s bracket with the loss to Spokane Valley, still alive in the double-elimination tournament. The Warriors took down Lynden again Tuesday morning, winning 11-1 thanks to a six-run top of the sixth inning. Leading the way at the plate in the win was Caden with three hits, while first baseman Josh Booker drove in three runs.  

The Warriors defeated Lynden 6-4 in the first game of the tournament, breaking a 3-3 tie in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by Pryor before adding two insurance runs in the top of the seventh.  

“Lynden’s a good team — I think we came out a little wide-eyed,” Mike said. “For the most part, we talk about walking a fine line between being really dumb and too goofy and being really serious and too tight. We were loose and just playing; that was a good, quality win.”  

In the second round of the winner’s bracket against the Yakima Valley Peppers, ACH capitalized off seven Yakima Valley errors en route to a 9-1 win, advancing to Monday’s game against Spokane Valley. Correia collected three hits, while pitcher Max Grindy drove in three runs in the win.  

“We put the pressure on Yakima Valley similarly to what Spokane Valley did to us; they were booting the ball around, and all of a sudden, they’re chirping at each other and they’re getting tight because (they think), ‘Oh my gosh, we shouldn’t be in this position,’” Mike said.  

Results from Tuesday afternoon’s games, which determine who the Warriors face Wednesday, were not available in time for press deadline. The AA State Tournament runs through Thursday at Al K. Jackson Field and University High School in Spokane.  

“It’s just who comes back mentally strong and ready to go; if I think I know our guys we’ll come back ready to play,” Mike said. 

    Warrior pitcher Karson Thompson releases a pitch against Spokane Valley on Monday during a game in the AA State Tournament.
  

    ACH second baseman Jase Cox picks up a ground ball and throws it toward first base for an out against Spokane Valley on Monday.
  

    Almira/Coulee-Hartline shortstop Caden Correia, in black, led off Monday’s game against Spokane Valley with a triple. Correia recorded a hit in all four of the Warrior’s games at the AA State Tournament.