Redmond baseball falls to Jackson in state semifinals

Playing No. 1 ranked Jackson on Friday after a late afternoon rain delay, the Mustangs had their six-game winning streak, and state-title hopes, snapped with a 5-3 loss.

Playing No. 1 ranked Jackson on Friday after a late afternoon rain delay, the Mustangs had their six-game winning streak, and state-title hopes, snapped with a 5-3 loss.

Jackson lefthander Nick Kiel threw a complete game, allowing only four hits to Redmond’s first-rate offense for three runs while striking out six.

Redmond starter Dylan Davis did not surrender a hit, but walked nine batters in 2 2/3 innings of work. On an 0-2 count, Jackson shortstop Conor Plaisance lined a pitch down the left-field line for a bases-clearing double, the only hit of the game for the Timberwolves.

Redmond notched five hits and just one error while Jackson’s unusual line had them scoring five runs on one hit with five errors.

On offense, Michael Conforto led off the seventh inning with a home run to ignite a rally, and Davis, who went 2-for-3, later scored on a sacrifice fly by Peter Hendron, but Patrick McGrath’s deep fly ball, would would been long gone at the Mustangs’ home field, Hartman Park, was caught near the wall to end the game.

Redmond plays in the consolation finals at Cheney Stadium against Richland at 1 p.m. today, while the Timberwolves will play for the state title against Bothell at 7 p.m.