LAKEWOOD Last week, the Cougar baseball team fell apart in the late stretches, dropping a tough game to Sultan.
This week, it was the Lakewood team that took advantage of opponents mistakes, climbing back from a four-run deficit to defeat Burlington-Edison 9-7, April 14. For a talented but vulnerable team, the win was a much-needed victory.
These guys showed a lot here today against a good opponent, B-E. It would have been easy to say, 7-3, thats a good loss, said Lakewood head coach Larry Delaney. This is a team that is capable of playing with anyone.
Cougar second baseman Jordan Stauffer capitalized early on B-E errors, finding his way all the way around the diamond in the first despite no other Lakewood hits in the inning. Shortstop Marcus Harkins made it 2-0 in the second inning, building a lead afforded by pitcher Max Dragitchs double for the RBI and two strikeouts in the top of the second inning.
Travis Alvord helped B-E battle back, getting the first of the Tigers two third-inning runs.
Stauffer ran in again for Lakewood in the third, but B-E tied it 3-3 in the fourth. Then, when Alvord found home again in the fifth inning for B-E, the Tigers began to build a lead. By the bottom of the sixth, B-E led the Cougars 7-3.
Harkins, designated hitter Jon Brown and second baseman Josh Gwyther filled the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and Dragitch reignited the Cougar offense, hitting a double to bat in Harkins and Brown.
A walk of sophomore Jesse Etchey once again filled the bases as outfielder Collin Murphy batted in Gwyther. In the next at bat, Stauffer was stopped at first, but had the game-tying RBI to bring in Dragitch.
Murphys run made it a win for Lakewood and outfielder Josh Spears crossed home too, for good measure, batted in by a single from first baseman Ryan Martin that made it into left field after two dives and two misses by the B-E defense.
The Cougars defended that 9-7 lead through the seventh, eliciting three outs from the next three Tiger batters.
Delaney said after the game he was pleased with the quality of the teams comeback wins this week.
We werent perfect today, but we took a step in the right direction, he said, adding, We had a good non-conference week, including a 10-9 win against Blaine. We expect to meet these teams at districts.

At Lakewood H.S.

Lakewood 1 1 1 0 0 6 x 9
B-E 0 0 2 1 2 2 0 7