The eighth grade class won’t be making their annual trip to Mount Saint Helens this year because the Johnson Ridge Observatory is still buried under a whole lot of snow.  The Cascades have received more than 150% of the usual snow fall this year which is great for the summer water forecast and skiers, but not so good for science field trips and baseball games.  The unusually poor spring weather – unusually poor even for the Pacific Northwest – threw a real curve ball at the CWA baseball team.  In the month of the March they played just two full games and they’ve had a few games called due to rain in April too.  None the less, the Tarriers finished the season with a 5-9 record. 

Patrick Philley and Benton Hendrix have both played particularly well in their senior season.  Hendrix pitched in three of the Tarrier’s five wins with strong support from the bullpen.  Philley led the team at bat, contributing RBIs or scoring runs in every Charles Wright victory.

Charles Wright’s first win of season came on April 9 against Cascade Christian.  At the end of the seven inning game, the teams were tied 2-2.  Cascade Christian scored two runs in the top of eighth as the game moved into extra innings.  The Tarriers answered in the bottom of the inning scoring three runs to win 5-4. 

Philley went four for five at bat in that game with four RBIs.  Junior Eric Knowles had the game winning RBI.  Sophomore Jeremiah Papa hit a double and scored two of the Tarrier’s five runs.  Hendrix went two for four and also had an RBI.  Senior Eric LaPlant pitched into the fifth inning, when Hendrix came in to relieve him and got the win. 

CWA faced Cascade Christian again on April 23.  In seven innings, both teams recorded four hits, but Charles Wright narrowly beat Cascade Christian 5-4.  Junior Stuart Urback pitched for the Tarriers.  Hendrix entered in the sixth and got the victory.  Philley had two RBIs.  Senior John Wescott went two for three at the plate.  Papa scored two runs, just as he had in the first game against Cascade Christian. 

Two days later, the Tarriers faced Seattle Christian.  Charles Wright brought in nine runs on nine hits to win 9-6.  Hendrix got the win and Philley got the save after he took the mound in the sixth inning.  Philley was three for three at the plate with two runs scored, two walks and a stolen base.  Knowles was three for five with a run scored and an RBI.  Wescott was two for three with a double and a run scored. 

On April 28, Charles Wright split a double-header with Life Christian, winning the second game 7-2 in just five innings.  LaPlant and Urback pitched for Charles Wright.  Sophomore Kit Banko went two for three at the plate, hit a home run and racked up three RBIs.  Philley went one for two and scored a run.

On May 1, Charles Wright split its final double-header with Chimacum, winning the first game 5-4.  Knowles went three for three at the plate and scored a run.  Banko went two for three at bat, hit an RBI and scored himself. Philley also scored and recorded an RBI.  Papa hit the game winning RBI. The win went to LaPlant on the mound for all five innings. 

Season record
3/19 Vashon 10, Charles Wright Academy 2 Loss
3/21 Orting 15, Charles Wright Academy 4 Loss
4/9 Charles Wright Academy 5, Cascade Christian 4 Win
4/10 Orting 20, Charles Wright Academy 2 Loss
4/11 Seattle Christian 13, Charles Wright Academy 6 Loss
4/14 Eatonville 9, Charles Wright Academy 1 Loss
4/16 Orting 15, Charles Wright Academy 4 Loss
4/23 Charles Wright Academy 5, Cascade Christian 4 Win
4/25 Charles Wright Academy 9, Seattle Christian 6 Win
4/28 Life Christian 3, Charles Wright Academy 1 Loss
4/28 Charles Wright Academy 7, Life Christian 2 Win
4/29 Washington 10, Charles Wright Academy 9 Loss
5/1 Charles Wright Academy 5, Chimacum 4 Win
5/1 Chimacum 2, Charles Wright Academy 0 Loss