4/20/26

Liberty (Renton) Patriots – 1/6/1
Sammamish Redhawks –    3/11/2

(Bellevue, WA) Playoff baseball in the KingCo already begins next week, and the teams are fighting for position in the league tournament. The Liberty (Renton) Patriots defeated the Sammamish Redhawks in a loser-out game last season in the KingCo Tournament. On Friday, Sammamish took a 1-0 lead, but Liberty stormed back with seven consecutive runs to win 7-1 at home. The rematch took place on Sammamish’s home turf, and on as perfect an April day as it gets, the teams met for the second time in less than a week.

The first inning was eerily similar for both teams. Both starting pitchers got the first two batters out before each reaching base safely. Connor Mayer got on with an error for Liberty, while Josh Perez also reached first with an error. Both pitchers were able to retire the next batter, and they also recorded a pair of strikeouts on the mound. After an indisdinguishable start, Liberty loaded up the bases in the top of the second with Matty Bligh and Tristan Klein each being hit by a pitch while Tate Tuininga drew a walk. Carson McCarry headed to the plate and smashed a line drive down the third base line, but Barrett Castillo made the catch, dove to third base, and tagged the bag for the double play to end the scoring threat.

In the bottom of the second, Jack Lansdowne led off with a single for Sammamish. Two batters later, Barrett Castillo singled, and with two outs, Ozzy Turner singled to load up the bases. Kolin Jaster delivered the game’s first run with an RBI single to give Sammamish a 1-0 lead. Liberty’s Connor Mayer worked out of the jam with a strikeout to limit any further damage. Liberty was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, Sammamish led off with a single, but Hudson Kauzlarich threw out Max Paguia attempting to steal second base. Jack Lansdowne added a single, but Connor Mayer recorded his fourth strikeout in the first three innings to close out the third. Liberty’s Huson Kauzlarich singled to lead off the inning and eventually made it to third after stealing a base, but was left stranded there as the next three Patriots weren’t able to drive him in. It was three up and three down for Sammamish in the bottom of the fourth as the Redhawks still led 1-0 heading into the fifth.

There, Griffin Ellsworth singled with two outs and made it up to second base, but Sammamish got the next batter out to end that half of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Sammamish led off with Kolin Jaster getting a single. After Lincoln Castillo moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, Josh Perez singled to put runners on the corners with one out. On the first pitch to Reid Baum, Max Paguia, who was running for Perez, took off for second base, and Liberty threw it that way. As soon as the catcher released the ball, Jaster, at third base, raced for home and scored to make it a two-run lead as Paguia was safe at second. Three pitches later, Baum drove in Paguia with an RBI single, and Sammamish led 3-0 after the fifth.

In the sixth, Liberty’s Connor Mayer led off with a double. After Sammamish’s Josh Perez struck out the next batter, Colton Hollerbach drew a walk. Matty Bligh stepped up and drove in Mayer with an RBI single. Two pitches later, Bligh took off for second, and rather than throwing there, Reid Baum threw to third base, which forced Hollerbach to head home. Barrett Castillo zipped the ball back to Baum, who applied the tag in time for the second out of the inning. Josh Perez would throw his seventh strikeout of the game to end the scoring threat from the Patriots, as they did cut into the Redhawks’ lead. Sammamish knocked a pair of two-out singles but was held scoreless as Braden Kobuki came on in relief for Liberty and did a great job getting a pair of strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, Liberty loaded the bases after Wyatt West drew a walk, then Griffin Ellsworth reached on a fielder’s choice as Carson McCarry, who ran for West, was thrown out at second on a ground ball. Sam Bell and Connor Mayer singled, both with two outs as Jacob Bajsarowicz came up to the plate with the tying run at second. On the first pitch, he would ground out, and Sammamish would get the hard-fought victory 3-1.

The Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP ultimately went to Sammamish’s Josh Perez. Perez commanded the game from the mound, reached base all three times with a pair of singles, and did all of that on his birthday. Barrett Castillo and Jack Lansdowne were also tremendous on the left side of the diamond defensively at third base and shortstop. The two routinely made fantastic plays and saved potential runs from Liberty numerous times.

Sammamish’s nine-game losing streak comes to an end as the Redhawks jump up to 7-10 on the season and 4-8 in league play. Sammamish is fifth in the KingCo standings, just one game over Interlake, which is 3-7 in league play. Interlake finishes the regular season going against Inglemoor, who is 10-0 in the KingCo. If Interlake loses both games, Sammamish would be the fifth seed and would begin KingCo Tournament play in the KingCo Quarterfinals, and Interlake would be the sixth seed and face Highline in the KingCo Play-In Game next Saturday. Interlake and Sammamish split the regular-season series, with the road team winning both games. Sammamish’s KingCo regular season is over, but they end with three non-league matchups. The Redhawks face Mountlake Terrace on Wednesday, Mount Si on Saturday, and Evergreen (Seattle) next Monday.

Liberty drops to 9-6 on the season and 4-6 in league play. The Patriots will take on Highline on Wednesday and Friday before finishing with three non-league games. They face Franklin at home on Saturday, go to Cedarcrest next Friday, and host Lakeside (Seattle) next Saturday. Liberty currently sits in fourth place in the standings and can’t go any higher as Bellevue is 7-3 in KingCo action with only two league regular-season games to play.

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Game Highlights

Sammamish’s Barrett Castillo Turns Two By Himself

Sammamish’s Jack Lansdowne Terrific Out With Long Throw Across The Diamond

Liberty’s Matty Bligh Delivers For The Patriots With 6th Inning RBI Single

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