5/7/26
#6 Interlake Saints – 10/19/1
#3 Bellevue Wolverines – 2/3/2
(Bellevue, WA) A year ago, Bellevue was the two-seed and nearly won the KingCo Championship in an epic 10-inning thriller against Inglemoor. Ultimately, the Wolverines made the State Tournament as a 19-seed. Interlake hasn’t made State since 2012 and nearly won a KingCo Quarterfinal game in a tight contest against Liberty (Renton) in last year’s tournament. After Bellevue swept the regular season series, the third game of the year would catch everyone’s attention.
Interlake started off aggressively, as Sam Haufe began the game with a single. Brady Didrickson singled as well, and Zach Diaz flared a single into right field. After an errant throw, Haufe took off for home and scored the first run of the game to make it 1-0. Devin Wallace stepped up and reached base after a fielding error, which allowed Didrickson to score as Interlake led 2-0 with one out. Ty Marcum wasted no time, as on the second pitch, he saw he singled up the middle, which drove in another Interlake run to make it 3-0. Nick Panigassi singled to load up the bases, but Colton Cary recorded a pair of strikeouts to close the inning. Bellevue launched the ball into right, center, and left field, but John Vernon, Ty Marcum, and Derin Tortop all made terrific grabs to maintain a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Ben Haufe and Zach Diaz each singled but weren’t able to score, while Derrick Peterson drew a two-out walk for Bellevue in the bottom of the second but was left stranded at first. Ty Marcum started the third by getting hit by a pitch, and Derin Tortop singled to put two on. With two outs, Sam Haufe drove them both in on a single to make it a 5-0 lead for Interlake. Ben Haufe singled to put runners on the corners, but again Colton Cary worked himself out of the jam. Atay Gill led off for Bellevue with a single, and with two outs, Greyson Arnold drew a walk. Jackson Rankin stepped in the batter’s box, and on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, found the pitch he liked most, and pounded it into right field for a two-RBI double as Bellevue trailed 5-2 through three innings.
Interlake had the answer in the top of the fourth as Zach Diaz led off with a walk. Devin Wallace singled, and after Ty Marcum struck out for the first out of the inning, Diaz was caught between second and third base. The throw went to second base, and Diaz dashed for third, but the ball got away from Bellevue as he came around and scored to make it 6-2 while Caellum Scott, running for Devin Wallace, advanced to second. Nick Panigassi singled to put runners on the corners, and Derin Tortop would drive in Scott on an RBI single to make it a 7-2 lead for Interlake. Peyton Scott singled to load up the bases, and Sam Haufe drove in another run on an RBI single as the Saints’ lead increased to 8-2. Ben Haufe had a sacrifice flyout to center field, which drove in another run for Interlake, making it 9-2, but they were thrown out on the basepaths, which wrapped up a four-run top of the fourth. Levi Diederich drew a walk to start the bottom of the fourth for Bellevue, but Devin Wallace struck out the next three batters to maintain the seven-run advantage for Interlake.
Zach Diaz had a single and a stolen base for Interlake in the top of the fifth, but the Saints weren’t able to add to their lead as Logan Wong had three strikeouts, while Bellevue was also held scoreless in the inning. Interlake was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the sixth, while Bellevue got the first two batters on, but Devin Wallace and Connor Cooper combined to strikeout the next three batters to get out of the jam, still up 9-2. Sam Haufe led off the seventh with a single as Brady Didrickson followed with a single of his own. Zach Diaz drove in Haufe on an RBI single to make it 10-2. Holding the large lead, Connor Cooper closed out the seventh, and Devin Wallace made the grab in right field for the final out of the game to secure Interlake’s spot in the KingCo Semifinals. Coming into the game, Interlake was 56th in the RPI, and Bellevue was 13th, but Interlake pulled off the upset in convincing fashion.
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP could’ve been Co-MVPs to the entire Interlake team, as it was a true team effort to get the upset. Ultimately, it went to Interlake’s Zach Diaz and Devin Wallace. Diaz caught the entire game, while reaching base all five times he came to the plate. Diaz had four singles, two RBI, two runs scored, and drew a walk. Wallace threw 5 2/3 innings, allowed only two hits and two runs, struck out eight, reached base twice on an error and a single, scored once, and caught the final out in right field.
Interlake improves to 6-13 on the season and is on a three-game winning streak. The Saints will face #2 Mercer Island on Saturday at 4:00 PM on ESN.
Bellevue’s season comes to an end at 16-6.
Click here to watch the full game replay (Subscription Required).
Game Highlights
Interlake’s John Vernon Starts The Game With A Web Gem
Interlake’s Sam Haufe Drives In Two On Infield Single
Bellevue’s Jackson Rankin Smashes Two-RBI Double
www.elisportsnetwork.com