The Lake Washington Kangaroos will face off against the Newport - Bellevue Knights at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The last three games Lake Washington has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Lake Washington is headed into the matchup having just posted their closest victory since March 29th on Wednesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-1 win over North Creek.
Lake Washington saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Kane Nishikawa, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Newport - Bellevue had to endure a four-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Issaquah a 6-0 shutout on Wednesday. The Knights not only won on Wednesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 1, 2024.
The result came thanks to Max Higbee's shutout, as he gave up just six hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than two walks any time he's pitched this season.
At the plate, Derek Zhang was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Those four hits gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Patrick Crowley, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Newport - Bellevue always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Lake Washington's victory bumped their record up to 9-7. As for Newport - Bellevue, their win bumped their record up to 2-13.
Lake Washington's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's contest. The Kangaroos have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Newport - Bellevue, though, as they've been averaging only 0.5 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Lake Washington continue to outrun the ball?
Lake Washington took their victory against Newport - Bellevue in their previous meeting on April 1st by a conclusive 7-0 score. Do the Kangaroos have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Knights turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
