Mark Morris comes out swinging against Columbia River, grabs 2A state baseball berth

RIDGEFIELD — Mark Morris seized its opportunity to return to state for the first time since 2011 by claiming an 8-5 win over Columbia River, a program with a long state tradition.

Mark Morris and Hudson’s Bay, which finished third and fourth in the 2A Greater St. Helens League, join fellow District 4 teams Tumwater and W.F. West for next weekend’s 2A state regional round.

In Friday’s winner-to-state, loser-out game at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, RBI singles from Austin Lindquist and Stephen Hammergren helped Mark Morris (18-5) take a 3-1 lead through three innings.

The Monarch blew the game open during a three-run fourth inning. An error, Dossen Morrow RBI base hit and Austin Lindquist sacrifice fly put Mark Morris ahead 6-1.

In the fifth, the Rapids got three runs back thanks to a Chris Parkin RBI double, a wild pitch allowing Peter Lubisich to score and a Zayne Boyes plates Parkin RBI ground out.

Langston Bartell provided the dagger by belting an RBI triple in the sixth and reaching home on an error.

In 5 2/3 innings, Hammergren struck out nine batters while giving up two walks, five hits and three earned runs.

River (16-8) missed the state regional round for the first time since 2018.

MARK MORRIS 8, COLUMBIA RIVER 5

Mark Morris 201 302 0—8 12 1

Col. River 100 030 1—5 6 3

Mark Morris

Pitching — Stephen Hammergren 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 9 K, 2 BB; Langston Bartell 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 K, 0 BB; Highlights — Kellen Desbiens 1-5, 2B, 2 R; Bartell 2-5, 3B, 3 R, RBI; Dossen Morrow 2-3, RBI; Hammergren 3-3, 2B, 1 R, RBI; Austin Lindquist 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Drew Wallace 1-3, 1 R; Zachary Doherty 1-3, 1 R.

Columbia River

Pitching — Harrison Hoffarth 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; Noah Coakes 3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; Zach Ziebell 1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB; Highlights — Noah Larson 1-4, 1 R; Peter Lubisich 2-3, 3B, 2 R; Chris Parkin 1-3, 2B, 1 R; Zayne Boyes 1-4, 2 RBI; Austin Habets 1-3, 2B, 1 R.