Resilience and overcoming adversity was the name of the game for the Hockinson High School baseball squad as they started the season 0-10 but found themselves a game shy of the 2A state tournament.
The Hawks racked up a couple of key wins in the regular season, including a series sweep of the Ridgefield Spudders and a win against the reigning 2A state champs Columbia River Rapids.
On Saturday, May 17, the Hockinson Hawks lost 4-1, ending their season while Aberdeen High School celebrated the state berth.
“When you go on this journey like we did from 0-10 to a game away from state, you learn you don’t take anything for granted,” Hockinson baseball head coach Clay Foley said. “And the great thing is once we started winning, started playing, started doing all the things, you find your belief and it helps you. You get into a game like this and never one second did I not believe they weren’t going to pull it off.”
Entering the district tournament meant the No. 5 seeded Hawks had to get by No. 4 seeded Centralia High School in the pigtail round. The Hawks won and entered the tournament with a 13-3 win on Saturday, May 10. The pigtail win sent them to the No. 1 seed and reigning champs.
On Tuesday, May 13, the Hawks shocked all with a 5-0 win over the Columbia River Rapids. After the big win, the Hawks found themselves against a tough Tumwater Thunderbirds baseball squad. Hockinson lost the matchup with Tumwater 11-1, sending the Hawks to the losers bracket with a game against Aberdeen High School. The game sat in Hockinson’s control until Aberdeen rallied across a couple of innings to take a 4-1 lead and grab the win.
“It hasn’t really set in right this second but I’ve got to say goodbye to nine seniors,” Foley said.
