Bulldogs lose to Woodinville, 9-4

The Woodinville Falcons capitalized on a two-out throwing error in the bottom of the third inning to score four unearned runs on Thursday, and went on to beat the Garfield Bulldogs, 9-4.

Spencer Greer pitched four innings of five-hit ball to earn his second win of the season. He gave up two earned runs, three walks and struck out four.

John Trupin pitched five innings to record his first loss in league play, giving up five hits and three walks while also recording five strikeouts. Only one run was charged against him.

Falcons designated hitter Doug Sullivan went 3-3 with two runs and three runs batted in and two stolen bases.  Plate standouts for the Bulldogs were Hank Droege, who went 2-3 with two RBIs, and Hayes Gorecki, who went 2-4 with oen run scored and an RBI.

Garfield next plays at Inglemoor on Wednesday at 6 p.m., then plays on Friday at home against Bothell at 3:45 p.m. — Herman Gilman

Read Full Post »

Trupin named Player of the Week

John Trupin has been named player of the week in recognition of his dominating performance on the mound in the Bulldogs’ league opener against the Ballard Beavers.

Trupin, a junior, tossed the KingCo 4A League’s only complete game last week: a sparkling 90-pitch performance in which he struck out seven and walked only one en route to a 3-1 victory.

John Trupin fires off a pitch to a Ballard batter.

The pitcher scattered seven hits, getting 13 outs from infield ground balls. His strike to balls ratio was a stellar 62:28.

The defining moment of his game came in the top of the seventh inning. The Bulldogs were trailing going into the bottom of the sixth, but then rallied to take the lead. The pressure was then on the pitcher to seal the win. Trupin was up to the task — shutting down the Beavers in order and finishing with a strikeout.

The Bulldogs play at Woodinville tonight at 6:30 p.m. Here are the full KingCo 4A standings after the first week of play.

Read Full Post »

Garfield rallies to beat Yelm, 10-9

Ruben Palmer’s bunt single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored pinch-runner Charlie Tarnoff to give the Garfield Bulldogs a 10-9 non-league victory over the Yelm Tornadoes on Saturday at home.

Joe Markman had led off the inning by ripping a double down the left-field line off Austin Brownell. Tarnoff then came in to pinch run for him before Palmer laid down  the winning hit. That capped a great day for Palmer, who went three for three with two runs batted in.

The game was a back-and-forth affair featuring 13 hits by each side, but the Tornadoes of the 3A Narrows League made three costly errors that led to three Garfield runs, the deciding factor in the game.

Yelm batter grounds out to the pitcher in the sixth inning.

Yelm jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, then added a run in the third to make it 4-0, before Garfield put up four runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score at 4-4.

Yelm came right back with three runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, 7-4. But when the Tornadoes took the field in the bottom of the inning, back-to-back errors with two outs on infield grounders allowed two Bulldog runs to score and make it 7-6.

The Bulldogs added three runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead, 9-7, only to see Yelm come back with two runs in the top of seventh off winning pitcher Spencer Scott, setting up the dramatic finish. Brownell took the loss for Yelm.

Garfield improved its record to 3-3 overall with the victory. The team’s next game is Monday at Woodinville at 6:30 p.m. The forecast calls for light rain showers and 52-degree temps. — Herman Gilman

Read Full Post »

Bulldogs lose to Roosevelt, 9-8

Garfield varsity lost a close contest to arch-rival Roosevelt HS, 9-8, on Thursday at Lower Woodland playfield.

Zach Naon’s fourth-inning grand-slam keyed a six-run inning that sealed the Rough Riders’ victory. The slam, off losing pitcher Zach Ward, erased a 5-2 Bulldog lead.

Winning pitcher Nathan Cutter pitched three innings of one-run relief, as Roosevelt took a 9-6 lead into the final frame.  The Bulldogs scored two runs of reliever Eli Matthieu and had the bases loaded with one out, but closer Spencer Maniccia struck out Chandler Honican looking. Spencer Scott then worked the count to 3-2 before flying out on a deep drive to center to end the game.

Zach Ward was 3-4 for the Bulldogs with a double, walk and two RBIs, while Valentino Coleman was 1-1 with three runs scored. Liam McFeeley had two RBI’s for the Bulldogs and Sam Kennard was 2-3 with one RBI and a steal of home.

Six different Roosevelt players had hits in their balanced attack.

Roosevelt evened its league record at 1-1 (3-2 overall) and Garfield also went to 1-1 (2-3 overall).

The Bulldogs’ next game is a non-league contest against the Yelm HS Tornados on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at home.  The team’s next league game is Monday at Woodinville at 6:30 p.m.  — Herman Gilman

Read Full Post »

Non-league game scheduled for Saturday

Coach Moedritzer announced this afternoon that he has added a non-league  game to the Bulldogs’ varsity and JV baseball schedule:

— Saturday, March 26: Garfield Varsity vs Yelm HS at 3:30pm at Garfield
— Saturday, March 26: Garfield JV vs Yelm HS 3:30pm at Bobby Morris

Quick facts on Yelm:

— Yelm is a town of 7,000 in Thurston County, southeast of Olympia.
— The Yelm HS mascot is the Tornado.
— Yelm Community Schools was the first school district in Washington. The district has the widest ranging school bus route in the state.
— The team plays in the 3A Narrows conference along with teams like Foss of Tacoma and Capital of Olympia.

Read Full Post »

Bulldogs beat Ballard, 3-1, with sixth-inning attack

Spencer Scott’s 2-RBI single off relief pitcher Ryan Kangas keyed a 3-run 6th inning, and junior John Trupin pitched a seven-hit complete game to lead the Garfield Bulldogs to a 3-1 over the Ballard Beavers in a KingCo 4A Crown Division season opening victory. Trupin also had an RBI 1B in the 6th inning as well.

Ballard starter Danny Thompson (4IP, 0ER, 3H, 4K, 5BB) matched scoreless innings with Trupin and the Beavers broke the scoreless tie on a 2-out RBI doubleby Kangas that drove in Steven Weber in the top of the 6th to grab a 1-0 lead.

But the lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs came back in the bottom of the sixth with singles by Sam Kennard and Zach Ward, and a walk to Chandler Honican (2-2) to load the bases.

Ballard batter hits grounder for final out in 3-1 loss to Garfield.

Scott (2-3, 2RBI, SB) then lined a 1B up the middle to give Garfield the lead. Trupin came back out in the 7th and retired the side in order, striking out Ben Welch for the final out.

Garfield goes to 1-0 in conference play and 2-2 overall. Ballard is 0-1 in conference and 2-3 overall.

The Bulldogs next play on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. against Roosevelt HS at the Lower Woodland Park ballfield near Green Lake. — Herman Gilman

In other action in the past week:

Bulldogs defeat Franklin, 21-4

In a March 17 game between two longtime rivals, the Garfield Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 1st inning lead and never looked back, in a dominating 21-4 win over the Franklin Quakers.

Garfield improved its record to 1-1 in non-league games, while Franklin lost its opener and is 0-1. Collin Evenson (1-0)pitched 4 innings of 2ER ballwith 4K’s and a BB to earn the win, as well as going 2-4 at the plate with 3R and an RBI.

Big offensive performances were turned in by Zach Ward (2-4, 4R, RBI), Reuben Palmer (3-5, 3R, 4RBI), Chandler Honican (2-4, R, 4RBI), Spencer Scott (4-5, 3R, RBI), Hayes Gorecki 2-4, 3RBI and Sam Kennard (2-4, 3R, 2RBI), as the Bulldogs knocked out 19 hits. Zach Ward started for Garfield 2 shutout innings and Joe Renner closed it with a scoreless inning, Xavier Conway was a lone highlight for Franklin going 2-3 with a 2B, R and 2RBI’s. — Herman Gilman

Mercer Island beats Bulldogs, 16-2

In a March 18 match-up between 3A and 4A KingCo teams, Mercer Island exploded for 11 runs in the 2nd inning and coasted to a 16-2 5 inning blowout win over Garfield.

Brian Higgins led Mercer Island’s 12 hit attack, going 3-3, 2R and 4RBI’s. Also having big games were David Oppenheim, who was 2-2, 3R, 2RBI with a 2B, Jordan Richartz, whose 2-3, included a long 3B, 2R and an RBI, and Evan Thompson, who went 2-3, 2R and 2RBI’s.

George Jiranek pitched 4 innings of 2R, 2H ball for the win. Spencer Scott went 2-3 for the Bulldogs, but also took the loss. Ruben Palmer scored both runs for the Bulldogs and had 2SB, including a steal of home. — Herman Gilman

Read Full Post »

Bulldogs lose to Sammamish, 7-6

The Bulldogs lost a hearbreaker to Sammamish in their season-opener on Tuesday, 7-6, after a fourth-inning rally fell short.

Sammamish jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, fueled by a two-RBI single by Craig Sweet. Garfield answered with a six-run 4th inning, keyed by a three-RBI double by Zach Ward to go ahead, 6-5.

However Sammamish eked out two unearned runs in the 5th inning without a hit and behind the late inning relief pitching of Jacob West, hung on for the win. ammamish improved their record to 2-0, while Garfield is 0-1.

Sweet finished the day 4-for-4 with the two RBI, which put him at 7-for-7 at the start of the season, with four RBIs. Chris Strain added two its, including a double and an RBI, for Sammamish. Joe Renner took the loss for Garfield despite not allowing an earned run.

The Bulldogs’ next varsity game is against Franklin HS at the Rainier Playfield at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The JV team will play Franklin JV at Garfield at 3:30 p.m. If the Rainier Playfield is deemed unplayable by the Parks Department in the morning, the varsity game will move to Garfield and the JV game will be rescheduled.

Other scheduling news:  The varsity game vs. Mercer Island HS, which was rained out on Tuesday, has been rescheduled to Friday at 4:00pm at Garfield. The Mercer Island JV game will be Friday at 3:30 or 4:00pm at Bobby Morris Playfield.

The JV game vs. Sammamish that was rained out on Tuesday will probably be played on Monday at Sammamish at 4:00 or 4:30. More details later.

And finally a personnel note: Valentino Coleman has been added to the varsity roster.

Read Full Post »

Varsity and JV baseball games cancelled

The GHS varsity and junior varsity games against Mercer Island High scheduled for Monday were cancelled due to the poor conditions of the rain-soaked ballfields.

Varsity and JV  practiced after school instead.

Next games for the teams: Tuesday at 3:45 at home vs. Sammamish HS for the varsity.  Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Sammamish in Bellevue for the JV.

For varsity team and individual statistics throughout the season, visit this link at MaxPreps.

Read Full Post »

Varsity, JV baseball team rosters announced

Varsity and JV baseball team rosters were announced on Saturday evening by Chris Moedritzer, the  new Garfield High head coach.

The coach said the rosters are effective for the Monday and Tuesday games only, adding: “Final decisions will be made by the end of the week, with some players swinging between JV & Varsity throughout the season.”

Moedritzer said that players not named on either roster will have another shot at making a team by participating in a tryout on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Garfield. He said there are several spots left to fill.

The non-roster players should attend either the JV or Varsity baseball games on Monday and Tuesday if possible. If either game is rained out, the coach said he will hold a practice instead. So all non-roster players should bring their baseball gear to school in anticipation of playing ball.

Moedritzer said all players must meet the Seattle School District’s  academic eligibility criteria and log 10 practices before they can appear in their first game. Contact him if you have any questions by phone or email at (206) 999-6145 or cmoedritzer@hotmail.com

2011 VARSITY

Grant Bronsdon
Cody Browne
Hank Droege
Collin Evenson
Jordan Gipson
Hayes Gorecki
Chandler Honican
Sam Kennard
Joe Markman
Liam McFeely
Ricky Nakamura
Ruben Palmer
Joe Renner
Spencer Scott
Charlie Tarnoff
John Trupin
Zach Ward
Ian Zapolsky

2011 JUNIOR VARSITY
Justin Arkills-McLain
Derek Billey
Bradley Bloedel
Alex Chase
Azor Cole
Tavish Fenbert
Keasean Kelly
Dominick Lewis
Tyler Nguyen
Ben Nogawa
Duncan Skerrett
Dennis Smith
Owen Vickrey
Nils Whisman
Jonathan Yang

The Bulldogs are scheduled to begin their season with a non-league contest against Mercer Island HS at home on Monday at 4:00 p.m. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday at home against Sammamish HS at 3:45 p.m.

Weather.com reports that light morning showers on Monday and Tuesday are expected to give way to drier skies and sunbreaks by game time. Temperature is expected to be around 50 degrees both days.

Read Full Post »

Chris Moedritzer named baseball coach

Chris Moedritzer was chosen on Friday to serve as head baseball coach at GHS for the 2011 season. He was an assistant varsity coach for the Bulldogs over the past three years. 

Moedritzer will begin his tenure as head coach by holding a practice at the GHS ballfield on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Charles Thompson, who has worked with the players for the past week, will serve as assistant coach.

The season begins on Monday with a home pre-season game against Mercer Island High School at 4 p.m.

Read Full Post »