LYNDEN — Lane Simonsen’s three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning powered Lynden baseball to a 5-3 Northwest Conference win over Meridian at home on Friday night.
The junior University of Washington commit belted just the second homer of the year for Lynden, skipping it off the top of the left field fence and over — right at 304 feet.
“We did remind him that it did bounce off the yellow cap,” Lynden head coach Cory White said with a laugh.
Simonsen’s deep ball kicked off the Lions’ scoring effort, jumpstarting a 5-run inning for the team that gave Lynden the permanent lead.
“We were hoping to get another one there late in the game, but we just didn’t get it,” Simonsen said.
Kael Stapleton picked up the win on the mound for Lynden, pitching a complete game while striking out six batters and allowing three hits, three earned runs and five walks.
It was a rough start for Stapleton, as the junior pitcher gave up two runs in the top of the first inning — one of which came on a solo home run by Meridian sophomore Jonah Aase.
Meridian players congratulate Jonah Aase after he hit a solo home run to put the Trojans ahead early in the game. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News) “We weren’t ready,” White said. “But I don’t take anything away from [Meridian], without a doubt. They jumped on us early.”
Stapleton eventually settled in, quieting the Trojans’ bats and allowing just one hit over the final five innings.
“Kael threw a great game, he filled up the strike zone and we made plays behind him,” Simonsen said. “That definitely makes a difference. … It was just overall a good outing.”
Meridian coach Steve Slesk said Stapleton’s performance after the second inning was the difference in the game.
“[Stapleton] did a good job keeping us more off-balance in the second half of the game,” Slesk added.
Trojans senior Tyrel Brooks got the start but was relieved by senior Hunter Jones in the bottom of the third after walking seven batters and allowing three hits and five earned runs.
Jones, in four innings pitched, allowed three hits and one walk while striking out one.
Neither team did much of anything offensively over the final five innings, with a combined three walks and three hits by both teams in the latter stretch.
“We flew out 12 times today,” White said. “That’s one thing we’ve got to do a better job on.”
Lynden’s Campbell Nolte beats the tag by Meridian’s Jacob Amundsen at second base. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News) Simonsen finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, a run scored and a home run. Stapleton was also sound batting, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, while senior Lincoln VanDiest went 1-for-3 and added an RBI.
Meridian was led by Aase’s 1-for-3 finish on his solo home run. Sophomore Tristan Wang went 1-for-2 with a run scored and junior Ian Forbes rounded out the scoring for the Trojans.
Lynden moved to 13-5 on the season (10-2 Northwest Conference) and remains in the race for the league title after winning its sixth-straight game. The Lions will travel to Squalicum (7-7, 5-6 NWC) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25.
“We got hot at the right time, we just need to keep hitting and keep throwing strikes like we’re doing,” Simonsen said.
Meridian dropped to 11-6 (7-5 NWC) and has now lost four of its last five games. The Trojans will host Ferndale (12-3, 8-3 NWC) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25.
“We haven’t been swinging it great,” Slesk said. “We need to get back on a bit of a roll, for sure.”
