TACOMA -- The accomplishment would be simply stunning.
When the Kamiakin Braves take the field at Cheney Stadium today for their state semifinal date with Mount Si, they not only will take the next step in a journey they hope ends with a championship, but also continue an impressive season in the big three sports.
Many of the Braves played on the football team that was a state runner-up in the fall, and Garrett Anderson -- today's starting pitcher -- played power forward for the basketball team that finished third at state.
Now, Kamiakin is taking aim at that elusive first-place trophy.
"That would be pretty cool -- unbelievable for them to do that," second-year baseball coach Ryan Carter said. "To end your senior year as state champions, that's pretty exciting, pretty story-book stuff."
Of course, winning a state title is no easy beans, even when there are only four teams left standing. Just ask Ben Jacobs, who has won more state titles (four) than any other 3A or 4A coach in state history.
His Bombers are back in the state semifinals for the fifth consecutive season -- they won titles in 2007 and '09 to join those they won in '05 and 1999.
"I was thinking about that today," Jacobs said Thursday. "I'm happy with however we finish -- obviously I think we can play for a state championship. But the only people or teams who really have an appreciation for this are people who have been in it and who know how fragile the system is.
"One bad inning, and you're done for the year."
Richland (20-6) and Bothell (21-4) play in today's last game at 7 p.m. in the 4A semifinals. The game will air on KFLD 870 AM. At 1 p.m., Kamiakin (22-5) and Mount Si (21-2) play in the 3A semis.
Bothell isn't loaded with a bunch of big boppers. The Cougars hit .263 as a team, and sophomore catcher Sam Lee leads the squad with a .326 average. Senior shortstop Jon Mercer is their top RBI guy with 16.
Senior Brian McAfee is Bothell's ace, going 9-0 with a 0.61 ERA and one controversial save.
It was McAfee's appearance for one out of relief last Saturday after throwing a complete game earlier in the day -- specifically banned in the WIAA guidelines -- that touched off a firestorm among west-side coaches, though the WIAA ruled Bothell eligible and said the guideline was ambiguous.
Jacobs said he plans to give the ball to sophomore pitcher Mason Hilty (5-1, 3.58 ERA) and start Syd Hall (7-1, 1.88 ERA) on Saturday.
The Bombers weren't considered a big offensive club by CBBN standards but have impressive numbers against Bothell's.
Second baseman Corey Morris leads the team with a .483 average, 12 doubles and 29 RBIs. Center fielder Zach Rapacz (.368, six HRs, 27 RBIs), right fielder Kenton Brunson (.380, four HRs, 27 RBIs) and catcher Jarrod Turner (.350, six HRs, 25 RBIs) also are big run producers.
Mount Si is coached by Elliott Cribby, who pitched at Columbia Basin College in 2004 before going on to play at Washington.
Outfielder Max Brown is the Wildcats' top hitter at .514 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and an amazing 24 stolen bases. In fact, Mount Si has 82 steals, about 3 1/2 a game, with second baseman Dustin Breshears second on the team with 16 thefts.
Shortstop Tim Proudfoot leads the team with eighth home runs, hitting .348 with 18 RBIs.
Carter is impressed with what he has heard and seen of Mount Si.
"They've been in a bunch of competitive games, and they've been winning 'em," he said. "It seems that pitching and defense is what they hang their hats on."
That formula probably sounds familiar to Kamiakin fans, especially when they hand the ball to Anderson, the CBBN 3A pitcher of the year.
Anderson is 12-0 with a 2.24 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings.
"The great thing about Garrett is he's incredibly competitive," Carter said. "The deeper he gets in games, the tougher he gets."
Tougher is what the Braves are after being the last team standing from a district that included five of the top teams in the state as well as playing a nonleague schedule that included Richland.
"The players have that confidence that they can take on anybody and compete," Carter said.
Third baseman Drew Oord has parlayed a big postseason into a team-high .541 batting average with 12 doubles and 44 RBIs. Five other Braves are hitting .400 or better, including center fielder Joey Jansen (.480, 28 runs, 22 RBIs), second baseman Blake Raekes (.475, nine doubles, six triples, 38 runs, 38 RBIs) and shorstop AJ Griffiths (.473, 27 R).
"We've played in five loser-out games," Carter said. "We're tough. We've won 1-0 games, we've been down 8-0 after half an inning and found a way to win. These guys really believe. They just want to go out and compete."
While most of the Mid-Columbia is focused on the 3A and 4A championships, DeSales is back at it again, playing Seattle Lutheran in the 2B semifinals at 7 p.m. today at Parker Field in Yakima.
* Kevin Anthony: 509-582-1403; kanthony@tricityherald.com
