Meridian baseball committed five errors and connected on just one hit in a 3-0 district semifinal loss to Cedar Park Christian on Saturday night at Joe Martin Stadium.
The Trojans (13-9) entered the game off a 5-0 quarterfinal win over South Whidbey just five hours earlier. They were unable to replicate that success against the Eagles (18-4) and were shut out for the first time all season.
“We had a big five in our error column, they had zero,” Meridian coach Steve Slesk said. “We just didn’t compete at the plate. That was the bottom line.”
Sophomore pitcher Jonah Aase was the lone bright spot for Meridian, pitching a complete game and connecting on its only hit. On the mound, Aase allowed one hit, two earned runs and two walks while striking out nine.
It was a pitcher’s duel, as Cedar Park Christian junior pitcher Lleyton Daily threw the shutout while walking two batters and striking out 11. Aase had a no-hitter through four innings, and Daily didn’t allow a hit for the latter five.
“[Daily] is good; so is [Aase],” Slesk said. “They only had one hit off Jonah. They just made it happen when they had their chances — we didn’t.”
Cedar Park Christian senior Ethan Stewart put the first run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, doubling to left field and scoring sophomore infielder Gregory Roy. The Eagles led 2-0 after five innings following a sacrifice fly that scored freshman outfielder Lyal Viers.
A fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth gave Cedar Park Christian its final run of the game, and Meridian left two runners on base as the Eagles turned the final ground out of the contest.
Stewart finished 1-for-3 for Cedar Park Christian and was one of just three Eagles to not be struck out by Aase.
The loss sends Meridian to a 1A District 1/2 consolation semifinal game against Lynden Christian (9-12) at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at Joe Martin Stadium.
The winner of that game will move on to the consolation final later that day with a chance to advance to state, while the loser will be eliminated.
“[We’re going to] work on some things and get things figured out, for sure,” Slesk said. “We’ll compete harder than we did that game. It was disappointing.
Cedar Park Christian advanced to the 1A District 1/2 championship against Overlake (17-5), with both teams having already clinched a state tournament berth.
