‘Cats rack up 10 runs against Mercer Island

Published 9:29 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – Getting on base has become a habit for Mount Si’s Marc Dahm. In each of the last 10 games, including last Friday’s game against Mercer Island, he has safely made it to first base as the lead-off hitter.

And he wasn’t the only one. The ‘Cats blew past the Islanders, winning the game by a score of 10-0.

Mount Si coach Gary McGregor said not only does Marc Dahm contribute on offense, his second-base play has helped the ‘Cats.

“Marc Dahm has been a great lead-off hitter all year,” McGregor said after last Friday’s game. “He led off the game with another hit and had a great game defensively, making two outstanding plays on two very tough ground balls.”

Marc Dahm’s brother, Mike, is no slouch at the plate either. Against Mercer Island, he knocked three hits past the Islanders. And in the first inning, Mike Dahm, along with brother Marc and Bryce Kaestner, each crossed home plate to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

The Islanders’ pitching also allowed Scott Johnson a lead-off hit in the bottom of the second, by way of a single to center field. Jeremy Bess also singled moving Johnson to third. With Mike Dahm at the plate, Bess stole second. Moments later, Mike Dahm hit his second single, scoring Johnson.

By the bottom of the fourth inning, the Islanders were still scoreless against the Wildcats. With two outs, Bess singled and Mike Dahm stroked his third hit of the game. With Bess on second and Dahm on first, the Mercer Island pitcher threw to first to try to pick off Dahm, but the first baseman missed the catch and as the ball rolled down first-base line. Bess came in to score while Dahm motored around to third.

In the top of the fifth, the Wildcat infielders set the Islanders down 1-2-3. Their work was rewarded by Aaron Svarthumle’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, which was crushed 15 feet over the center-field fence – more than 372 feet away from home plate.

“Aaron hit one of the longest balls hit at Mount Si in the last few years,” McGregor said. Svarthumle is currently one of the league leaders in runs batted in.

Following the home run Mount Si led by six in the fifth inning, and the Mercer Island players grew noticeably restless, which cost them two mistakes. With one out, the ‘Cats’ Sean Sattler singled made it to first on an infield error. Then Tyler Osborn was the recipient of a throwing error. With Sattler and Osborn at second and first, each advanced a base on a wild pitch. Nick Harpel then singled to center, and Sattler and Osborn came in as the seventh and eighth runs.

In the bottom of the sixth, David LaBelle hit a double to the left-center-field fence. Brent Clarke singled and LaBelle scored. Sattler had a two-out base hit, and a walk to Osborn loaded the bases. The next batter, Kaestner, received a walk and Clarke came in for the 10th run.

Clarke pitched the first four innings to earn the shut-out victory over Mercer Island, with Harpel relieving him in the fifth. Mount Si plays Interlake at 7 p.m. Friday at Bannerwood Park in .