The Redmond Mustangs battled the Juanita Ravens on Tuesday and Friday night in a pair of thrilling, down to the wire baseball games. On Tuesday night, the Ravens walked off on the Mustangs in the bottom of the 9th inning for a 2-1 win. Friday night it was the Mustangs turn as they held off the charging Ravens for a 6-5 win.
Tuesday night at Lee Johnson Field was a pitcher’s duel. Mustang senior LHP, Ryan Rembisz, yielded one run in the first inning and would not allow another in six innings of work. He was dominant once again, striking out 10 and only walking two. The lone Mustang run came off the bat of Seth Kreysar who doubled to the right-center gap to drive in Ayush Krishnappa. Juanita brought the Mustang night to an end as they manufactured a run from a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 9th. After bunting the runner over, a single to left field secured the win for the Ravens.
Friday night at Hartman Park had a different outcome and a different feel. This night belonged more to the offense as Redmond scored four runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. Junior Austin Paul, who was 2-3 on the night, began the inning with a leadoff single. Krishnappa (3-3 on the night) laid down a bunt for a base hit as the pressure on the Ravens began to mount. Senior Colin Curry’s ground ball would drive in the first run and junior Kai Drotz’s single to left brought in the second. The big blow, however, was junior Michael Kimborowicz’s two out double down the left field line which plated Curry and Drotz. The Mustangs would add a 5th run in the bottom of the second as senior Yuma Masaki opened the inning with a solo homerun to right field.
The five run lead would not hold up, however, as Juanita came storming back in the third inning to score five runs and chase starter, Masaki, from the game. Senior Casey Lennon-Jones came on in the inning to limit the damage and pitch the Mustangs out of the jam. The right-hander would pitch 2 2/3 innings, only allowing four hits and no runs. He was helped by some outstanding Mustang defense as Drotz and Curry made spectacular catches in the outfield.
Junior Cole Uyematsu would come on in the 6th to keep the Ravens at bay and watch as the Mustangs plated the winning run in the bottom of the 6th. Masaki led off with a single and Paul bunted him over. Masaki then took third on a passed ball and Krishnappa lined a two strike pitch to right field to score Masaki. Uyematsu would finish the bottom of the 7th keeping the Raven lead off single on second as he struck out the final batter to end the game, 6-5.
The Mustangs look ahead to next week as they face the Lake Washington Kangaroos on Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday will be at Hartman at 7 while Friday will be at Lee Johnson at 7:15.