Bishop Blanchet wins another Metro title | Prep baseball

WHITE CENTER — While Bishop Blanchet coach George Monica watched his players spill out of the dugout and onto the field after winning the Metro League championship, he couldn't help but think how it never gets old watching teenagers live in the moment.

By knocking off West Seattle 7-2 on Saturday at Steve Cox Memorial Park, the Braves secured their second straight league tournament title, their 11th under Monica.

"They get to be champions forever," Monica said. "That's very, very special."

Both teams previously qualified for the state playoffs.

But Blanchet's latest title didn't come easily. The Braves (19-4) needed four home runs over a two-inning stretch to rally past the Wildcats.

Michael Albert took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, but after a one-out walk he gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Wiggins that put West Seattle in front. That, combined with a defensive gem from shortstop Trevor Martin half an inning earlier, had given the Wildcats momentum.

"That wasn't a big deal, the home run," Albert said. "He hit it off a tough pitch to hit over that way. He's just a good hitter. I didn't take it personally or anything; just went out there and kept going."

Then the Braves broke out the bats.

Riley Rockwell tied the score with a two-run shot in the fourth. Then, with two outs, Mike Shanahan hit his first home run, another two-run shot.

But Blanchet wasn't done. Garret Hay and Josh Sale hit back-to-back homers in the fifth, providing more than enough offense for Albert, who tossed a six-hitter. The senior walked four and struck out two.

"Just having your team be able to back you up like that and produce runs to make you have that comfort, it's just easier to pitch that way," Albert said.

Loser-out game

O'Dea 18, Nathan Hale 1

The Irish (16-8) scored four runs in the first and nine in the sixth to keep their season alive. O'Dea plays a winner-to-state, loser-out game against Sammamish, KingCo 3A's No. 2 representative, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Steve Cox Memorial Park.

Shane Smith smacked a first-inning home run and Jake Holmes added a pinch-hit three-run shot in the fifth, but the day belonged to O'Dea first baseman Paul Sitkowski. The junior went 4 for 5 with two doubles, a triple, four RBI and four runs.

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or mkelley@seattletimes.com