Islanders Triumph over Juanita in Extra Innings, 10-7

A couple of weeks ago, the Islanders (4-4, 8-5) were one out away from a win in Peter Kirk Park, only fall in extra innings after a 3 1/2 hour marathon game against Lake Washington. This time — facing Juanita — the shoe was on the other foot.

The Rebels led almost the entire game, but the Islanders grabbed the tying run in the seventh and then went on to add three more in the eighth to win 10-7 Wednesday night in Kirkland.

The Islanders (4-4, 8-5) tied it on a single by Alex Himstead, and Matt Orehek added a two-run single in the eighth. Mercer Island finished with 11 hits and Juanita with 10. But Mercer Island head coach Cory Smith was far from enjoying the late, late showing from his Islanders team.
"We've gotten in a habit of starting out flat and giving teams extra outs and it leads to runs we shouldn't allow," Smith said. "Last night was no different. I felt (starting pitcher) Isak Morris threw very well, we didn't give him much help defensively."

The Rebels’ Conner Jackson had two hits in four at bats with an RBI, and scored a run and stole a base. Mitch Gebe went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Jyran McNairy went 2-for-4 and stole a base. Derek Kaufman hit a two-run double.
“A moral victory can only go so far,” said Juanita coach Sherman Leach. “This would have been big … We're getting some runs. We seem to score early and then relax.”

In addition to clutch hitting from Himstead and Orehek, Islanders Evan Thompson and David Oppenheim consistently reached base put pressure on Juanita with their speed, while reliever Jordan Richartz refused to allow an earned run. He also had 2 doubles from the leadoff spot.

"Happy with the win, but the effort needs to be 7 innings every game if we want to go on to state," said Smith.

The Islanders face Mt. Si in Snoqualmie tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., while the Rebels (3-5, 3-9) face Sammamish.