4/16/26

(Tumwater WA) Two of the top teams in the 2A EvCo faced off for the first time this year, as Tumwater and Aberdeen faced off for one of two meetings that will take place this week. Tumwater got a hot start early and displayed great hitting to maintain a lead for most of the game. Every other inning, either team would get hot and either pull away or get the game within a few runs. One final stand from Aberdeen in the 7th inning would bring the game within one, but Tumwater managed to survive. A wild and entertaining game from start to finish that saw it all on the diamond.

Tumwater 9, Aberdeen 8

Aberdeen started the game off well with an early walk to Mason Hill and a single by Aiden Baker, followed by a hit-by-pitch that would load the bases with two outs. Tumwater’s starting pitcher, Braeden Konrad, managed to get out of the inning unscathed, though with a strikeout of Aberdeen’s Chad Fretts. Tumwater wasted no time at the bottom of the first inning to get the bats rolling. Peyton Davis led off with a stand-up double, followed by a RBI triple from Wyatt Chase for the first run of the game. Luke Overbay would follow up with a sacrifice bunt that would score Chase. Liam Gustafson would one-up everyone, though, with a massive home run shot to right field that would bring the score to 3-0 after the first inning.

Aberdeen would start the second inning with a walk to Gabe Matthews, who would advance to second base on a bunt from Greg Edwards. Donny Hedgpeth would fly out to right field, and Matthews would try to tag up to third base, but Luke Overbay delivered a rifle throw from right field that would fly right into the hands of Henry Arthur at third base to throw Matthews out. An amazing way to go into the half inning off of one of the best throws you will see from an outfielder. Besides a single from Kade Acker for Tumwater, the bottom of the second inning went quick due to the pitching of Mason Hill and Aberdeen was back at the plate.

This is where the bats started to get hot for the Bobcats. Sam Schreiber would get walked to lead things off and he would then steal second and third in just a few pitches. He then would score on a wild pitch for the first run of the game for Aberdeen. Bubba Jones would pick up a single, followed by Mylan Bruner being walked to put runners in scoring position. Chad Fretts would cash in with an RBI single to bring the game within two for the Bobcats. Jimmy Womach for Tumwater would pick up a double but nothing would come from it as Mason Hill once again got things going from the mound.

A quick top of the fourth for Aberdeen would get Tumwater back at the plate. Jayden Stacy would hit a single to start things off, and Kade Acker would then reach first on a fielder’s choice. Peyton Davis would get hit by a pitch, and then Wyatt Chase would lay down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Luke Overbay, who had already had an RBI in the day, came to the plate and found the perfect pitch to swing on. He launched a grand slam home run to center field that would bring the score to 7-2.

Neither team did much in the fifth inning, and time was running out for Aberdeen as the top of the sixth approached. With Tumwater’s reliever Adley Goebel on the mound since the fourth inning, Aberdeen went cold, and the sixth inning was no different. Goebel delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, and the T-Birds would get back into the batter’s box. Tumwater would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth with Peyton Davis getting an RBI sacrifice fly after a Kade Acker double. Tumwater would score another run off of a wild pitch, bringing the score to 9-2.

Things were shaping up to be a Tumwater win, but Aberdeen would not go away and scored six runs at the top of the seventh to make things very scary for the T-Birds. Sam Schreiber would lead things off and reach first on an error, Land’n Purdy would then get walked, and Aiden Baker would launch a double for an RBI. Bubba Jones would then follow with an RBI single, and momentum had completely shifted the Bobcats way. Mylan Bruner would reach base on a fielder’s choice, and Gabe Matthews would get an RBI after an error by Tumwater. Greg Edwards would get walked and load the bases. With two outs, Donny Hedgpeth would rip a 3-run RBI double that would clear the bases and bring the game within one. Luke Overbay would strike out Sam Schreiber, though, to end the game and secure a Tumwater Victory.

MVP

The Thorbecks’ MVP of the game went to Luke Overbay, who had five RBI’s on the day, including a grand slam and great defensive play as well. He was also the one who put a ribbon on the Tumwater win with his final strikeout in the 7th inning to secure the win for the T-Birds.

Notable Performances

Aberdeen:

• Mason Hill – 5.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 2 Ks
• Donny Hedgpeth – 1-3, 3 RBI, 1 BB
• Aiden Baker – 2-4, 1 RBI
• Bubba Jones – 2-4, RBI

Tumwater:

• Braeden Konrad – 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 3 K
• Luke Overbay – 1-4, 5 RBI, 1 HR (Grand Slam)
• Peyton Davis – 1-3, 1 RBI
• Wyatt Chase – 3-4, 1 RBI