YAKIMA -- Mason Hilty went the distance on the mound, and Richland jumped on Auburn Riverside with a six-run fourth inning and cruised to a 10-1 win in the 4A state quarterfinals Saturday at Yakima County Stadium.
The win locked up the Bombers' fifth straight trip to the 4A final four, a run that includes a pair of state titles.
"I'm so proud of these kids," said Richland coach Ben Jacobs, noting that the victory is the 20th win of the season for the Bombers, who have averaged 20 wins over the last 13 seasons. "These kids upheld the tradition."
And what a tradition. The Bombers' last seven trips to state dating to 2002 have ended at the final four, with titles coming in 2005, '07 and '09 -- all odd years.
But it took an odd finish in Saturday's first game -- a 5-4 win over Ferris in 10 innings --to keep Richland's season alive.
The Saxons scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10th, then sent ace Spencer Ansett back on the hill. Through nine innings, he had allowed just five hits. But the Bombers would get four more on their way to the win.
Richland loaded the bases on Syd Hall's leadoff double, a hit batter and Bob Imhoff's bunt single. Dalton Johnson followed with a flare that fell into left field for one run, and Dillan Klute walked to bring in the tying run.
With Zach Rapacz at the plate, Ferris shifted the defense, bringing in the right fielder to play in the hole at short. But that didn't stop Rapacz from laying down a suicide squeeze bunt up the first-base line to bring home Imhoff with the winning run.
"Holy Moses, that first game was something else," Jacobs said.
Richland (20-6) will take on Bothell (20-4) in the 7 p.m. semifinal Friday at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.
Redmond and Jackson square off in the other semifinal.
Auburn Riverside 4, Walla Walla 3
AR ace Mike Rucker improved to 10-0 and struck out 11, and Wa-Hi (20-7) ended its promising season in the first round of state.
Jake Jimenez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for Walla Walla. Moe Handcox also had three hits.
It was the first time the senior-laden Blue Devils qualified for state since 1990 and just the third trip in the history of the program.
"It ended up a really good season," said Wa-Hi coach Keith Gradwohl. "We battled, ended up with a tying run in the seventh we couldn't get across.
"It ended up a tough game but a really great year for us."
Auburn Riverside 010 000 0 -- 1 6 1
Richland 200 602 x -- 10 12 0
Marples, Grad (1), Hakala (4), Swanson (6) and Sherwin; Hilty and Turner.
Highlights--Rapacz (R) 2x2; Brunson (R) 2x4, 2R; Poznanski (R) 2x3, R; Hilty (R) 5K.
Ferris 000 011 000 2 -- 4 8 1
Richland 000 200 000 3 -- 5 9 1
Ansett and Krustangel; Hall, Rapacz (6), Hilty (7) and Turner.
Auburn-Riverside 030 100 0 -- 4 8 1
Walla Walla 000 110 1 -- 3 9 3
Mike Rucker and Sherwin; Jake Campeau and Conner Holbrook.
Highlights--Rucker (AR) 11K; Handcox (WW) 3x4, 2R; Jake Jimenez (WW) 3x4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Campeau (WW) 4K.
