Ryan’s game-winning homer
tops ‘pretty good week’
Story by Matt Pranger
Photos by Matt Pranger and Sharon Kivisto
The Wolverines greeted Brady Ryan at home after his game winning home run.
posted 05/01/04
Brady Ryan will remember this week for years to come. The Friday Harbor High senior anchored his high school team that finished second in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Monday, April 28. Two days later he drilled a walk-off, two-run homer, securing the Wolverine baseball team’s 9-7 victory over inter-island rival Orcas.
"It’s been a pretty good week," said Ryan, who also drove in the tying run that sent the game into extra innings.
The Wolverines made Coach Rich Warin sweat for his birthday present. "It took us a while, but we got it done," said freshman pitcher Ian MacDougall, who threw three and one-third innings of shut-out ball.
In addition to his game-winning homer, Ryan cracked two doubles and had 4 RBI.
Andrew Westphalen continued to scorch the ball. The senior shortstop singled, tripled and homered and had three RBI.
Elliot Thomsen earned the win for the Wolverines. He threw six innings in relief and gave up no earned runs and struck out four. At the plate, Thomsen singled, doubled, stole a base and drove in a run.
Orcas and Friday Harbor had opportunities to win the game in the late innings but the fans remained on edge until Ryan lined the ball over the leftfield fence. Ryan drove in Tim Cumming, a pinch runner for Andrew Westphalen, who led-off with a single.
The Vikings went up 4-0 in the first inning. Ryan Harvey walked, Justin Rorabaugh and Shane Welch hit singles, Miles Murphy was hit by a pitch and Mark Wulff rapped a base hit.
Orcas added two more runs in the second inning. McLane Stone and Harvey reached base on balls. Welch and Chandler Stone were hit by pitches and Murphy reached base on an error.
Friday Harbor put a run on the board in the fourth inning. Thomsen was hit by a pitch and went home on a double by Ryan.
The Wolverines trimmed the lead to 6-4 in the fifth inning. Danny Cumming was hit by a pitch, Peter Shanks singled. Westphalen smacked a two-run triple and Thomsen singled him home.
Eric Rothlisberger saved at least two runs in the sixth for the Wolverines. With Viking runners on first and third, the sophomore third baseman went horizontal to toward the left line to rob the extra-base hit.
Westphalen homered in the bottom of the seventh to draw the Wolverines within a run. Thomsen reached base on an error. Ryan tied the game by singling home Tim Cumming, a pinch runner for Thomsen.
Orcas went up 7-6 in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Welch reached base on an error and went to second on a wild pitch. Welch scored on a base hit by Murphy and the Vikings’ hopes for an upset were revived.
Woodruff’s home run knotted the game 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth.
Friday Harbor came a few inches from winning the game in the 10th inning. Thomsen double in the center-rightfield gap. Tim Cumming, pinch-running for Thomsen, went to third on a wild pitch. Ryan hit into the infield and Cumming was tagged at home. The next Wolverine batter grounded out.
The Vikings threatened in the 10th inning. With one out, Welch reached base on balls and went to second on a wild pitch. Murphy reached base on an error. Thomsen recorded a infield fly and a strikeout to end the inning.
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