Believe it: Mountain View rallies past Kelso to capture 3A district baseball championship
May 15-Aaron Coiteux had a simple message to his Mountain View players when the Thunder got down four runs early Friday.
It's the same message he's been giving his players for three seasons now.
"Believe," Coiteux said. "Win the pitch. Win the next pitch. I never had a doubt that we wouldn't at least tie it. I just didn't, because we've been playing really well lately."
The Thunder responded to that instruction, pushing across four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally past Kelso 7-5 in the 3A District 4 championship game.
The journey for the bulk of the Mountain View baseball team started two seasons ago when the Thunder went 1-19 with a roster that included four or five freshmen starters.
After reaching the postseason last year, the Thunder captured the 3A Greater St. Helens League title this season.
But the prospects of adding a district title appeared to be dimming after the Hilanders scored twice in the second inning and added three more in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
"They got some hits in some tough spots," Coiteux said of Kelso. "But I knew we were going to come back. That's how I believe. And these guys are starting to believe that, too."
Coiteux brought in Owen Kendrick to pitch in the second inning. After giving up three runs in the third, the sophomore held the Hilanders scoreless over the final four innings to give the Thunder a chance.
"Just believe in myself, believe in my defense," Kendrick said of his approach on the mound. "Just throw strikes and let them hit it because I know we going to make the plays behind (me). And it worked out."
Mountain View cut the deficit to 5-3 after four innings, but still trailed by two heading to the bottom of the sixth.
Jackson Taylor opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch, then Legend Haskew reached on a dropped third strike.
Nick Wilcox tried to bunt the runners over and his hustle down the first-base line led to an errant throw that allowed Taylor and Haskew to score to tie the game at 5-5.
Brendon Lawson put the Thunder ahead when he hammered the first pitch he saw deep into center field for a double.
"First-pitch fastball," Lawson said. "I really haven't swung at a lot of them. I saw it middle-middle. I took big hack, and it went pretty far."
The Thunder added one more run to go up 7-5. Kelso answered in the top of the seventh by putting two runners on base with one out.
Kendrick next faced Sosefa Logotaeao, who had a big double earlier in the game.
"I couldn't walk him," Kendrick said. "I've got to make him put it in play and get outs. I mean, if they hit it, fine. But I believe in myself. I think that they're going to roll it over and get outs. And we won. It worked."
Kendrick got Logotaeao to ground into a force out at third. Then he got the final out on a force out to second.
"He's been a rock for us all year," Coiteux said of Kendrick. "I brought him early. He's started games. He's come in relief. He's saved games. He just battles. He just competes. He's like 'OK, here's my stuff. Hit me or not.' It's just fun watching him."
Mountain View will now await the seeding committee's decision on placement into the 3A state tournament. Both the Thunder and Hilanders have earned state berths.
In the meantime, the Thunder will enjoy Friday's win.
"It's probably the most excited we've ever been," Lawson said. "As you could here, we were super loud coming out of the dugout and coming off the field here. It's definitely exciting."
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