5/17/25

Liberty (Renton) Patriots – 2/7/2
Bellevue Wolverines –           3/6/1

(Bellevue, WA) The KingCo 3A Tournament has been a good one. Each game has been competitive, and both the Bellevue Wolverines and Liberty (Renton) Patriots have firsthand experience with this. Bellevue came off a loss to Inglemoor in 10 innings in the KingCo Championship Game. Liberty began their run in the KingCo Tournament with an 8-7 win over Interlake in the bottom of the 7th inning. Bellevue defeated Liberty three times this season, including last Saturday, 10-5, in the KingCo Semis. With this being a winner-to-state, loser-out game meant the stakes were at it’s highest for both sides.

Liberty loaded the bases in the 1st inning with two outs, but Greyson Arnold worked his way out of the early jam by forcing a groundout. Bellevue led off the bottom of the inning with a single, but a double play from Liberty quickly ended any scoring chances. Both teams continued to use good defense in the 2nd inning to keep it scoreless through two.

Liberty got the bats going in the 3rd inning, when Jackson Bell led off with a double. Ryan Boehm followed up with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Connor Mayer was hit by a pitch to load up the bases, still with no outs. Parker Heeter stepped into the batter’s box and once again delivered for the Patriots. Heeter hit a two-RBI double to score the first runs of the game and give Liberty a 2-0 lead. With runners at second and third and no outs, Arnold retired the next three batters to avoid giving up any more runs to keep the deficit for Bellevue just two runs.

Bellevue was able to get two runners on with two outs, but Boehm recorded his third strikeout of the game to keep it a 2-0 lead for Liberty. In the bottom of the 4th, Bellevue led off with a single, but after a flyout, Liberty pitcher Ryan Boehm forced the Wolverines to ground into a double play to end the inning. In the 5th inning, both teams had a base runner on, but neither team could score, as Liberty still led 2-0.

After forcing Liberty to three quick outs in the top of the 6th, Bellevue went to the plate in the bottom of the inning with a purpose. Brandon Powell led things off with a double, and Brody Gayte followed up with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Greyson Arnold knocked in Powell with a fielder’s choice as Liberty got Gayte out at second, as the Patriots’ lead was cut in half at 2-1. Dylan Leaird singled to get another base runner on, and after a strikeout, Andrew Van Appledorn hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield. Van Appledorn’s hustle down the first baseline forced the long throw to be a little rushed and high, which allowed Arnold to score from third base and tie the game at 2-2.

In the 7th inning, Liberty had runners on first and second after another Jackson Bell single and Connor Mayer drawing a walk, but Greyson Arnold again got out of the jam by forcing a groundout. In the bottom of the inning, Max Brender struck out swinging, but on the drop third strike, hustled down the first baseline and made it safely to get a runner on with no outs. Eli Auten moved Brender over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Liberty intentionally walked Brandon Powell to put runners at first and second with one out. Brody Gayte went up to the plate, and Gayte hit a ground ball to second base. Liberty got the out at second, but the throw to first got away and allowed Brender to score the winning run and send Bellevue to the State Tournament.

With Bellevue’s win, the Wolverines improve to 13-11 and are going to the State Tournament for the first time since 2009. Liberty’s season ends with a record of 10-15.

Our Thorbeckes Game MVP was a split between two Bellevue Wolverines. Brody Gayte, who also hustled down the first baseline, possibly affecting the throw to first, was spectacular defensively playing catcher and had a great all-around KingCo Tournament. Max Brender for Bellevue also took co-MVP honors, as Brender was a reliable glove in the outfield for the Wolverines, and his hustle after the dropped third strike ended up eventually winning the game for Bellevue.

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Game Highlights

Bellevue Scores Winning Run To Go To State

Liberty Turns Two In 4th Inning

Bellevue Ties Game In The Bottom Of The 6th Inning 

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