Mount Si baseball eliminated from State tournament after 1-0 loss

After winning the KingCo 4A championship, Mount Si's varsity baseball team made it into the state tournament, where they faced off against Gig Harbor in the first round Friday, May 20.

After winning the KingCo 4A championship, Mount Si’s varsity baseball team made it into the state tournament, where they faced off against Gig Harbor in the first round Friday, May 20.

They were knocked out of the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Gig Harbor, ending their season with a record of 18-6.

Despite the loss, this season was a showcase of great improvement from the team, which had a 3-17 record in 2015.

Zach Habben, head coach, said the improvement in leadership and communication was one of the major factors.

“It’s a complete turn around from last season, we have great leadership and guys came out, played hard and came together and played as a group which is great,” Habben said.

“We didn’t change anything as far as what our goal is and what we practice. It’s the execution on their part. The biggest thing is we have had great leadership this year, the guys did not like the way last year turned out and they came out this year and said its not going to happen to us again and it paid off.”

In the week leading up to the regional tournament, Habben talked to the Record about the team. He said their practices were more varied and focused than during the regular season, because they didn’t have to play league games.

“We have time. Before you wouldn’t be able to throw all of your pitchers on one day for an intersqaud, we did that on Monday, we get the bullpens in, we get light pitching, we get to play defense, it’s nice to be able to mix it up and do something a little different knowing that we have five days,” Habben said.

Jimmy Boyce, senior and one of the team captains, was proud of his team for taking the KingCo title and getting as far in post-season play as they did.

“We had some tough losses towards the end of the regular season. I think it only brought these guys closer together and I think it showed on that last week of those playoffs in KingCo. We came away with three really good wins, we played really hard and really great baseball for three days and that bought us the KingCo title,” he said. “I think at times we had trouble executing small things, but other than that, our pitching, defense and hitting especially has been great all year and has propelled us.”

The team is young, and some key seniors are leaving this year, Habben said. However, he knows the returning players will be able to fill the roles of those who leave.

“We are hoping the juniors and sophomores step up and take their place just like this group of seniors did from last year,” Habben said. “First base, shortstop, catcher, left, center and right fields, everyone is coming back. I like the outlook.”

What Habben is more worried about is losing the baseball field. Due to the large-scale construction beginning this summer at Mount Si High School, the Wildcats will need to find a substitute home field for next season.

“We don’t know yet. I wish I had an answer but we don’t know. We’ve been working with the district and trying to see if it’s something within the city, if it’s district or whatever it might be, but unfortunately we don’t know,” Habben said.