The Wildcats picked up their first victory of the season last Wednesday, March 28, in their league opener with the Mercer Island Islanders. Mount Si rallied from a 5-2 deficit with four runs in the fifth, then had to hang on for a 6-5 win.

Mercer Island opened the scoring in the second inning, with a two-run single by Ben Corson that scored Ben Shoemaker and Willy Reel. The Islanders proceeded to tack on three more runs in the fourth before the Wildcats rallied. Ian Atkinson’s two-run single was the big blow in that four-run fifth, scoring Zack Robinson and Thomas Taylor.

Mount Si relief pitcher Kevin Sandin then dug down and held the lead despite loading the bases in the seventh, getting the win on the mound for the Wildcats. He didn’t give up a run in three innings pitched.

Wildcat coach Gary McGregor is hoping for less stressful victories in the future. “We just have to learn to relax. It probably comes with winning. It’s only our third game, first league game, but we were really, really tight. We swing the bats so well during practice. We hit the crud out of the ball, but we don’t do anything during games. Got to become more disciplined; we have to be more relaxed,” said McGregor.

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