Issaquah out-slugged Kelso 12-8 in a winner-to-state game Saturday at Kelso, earning the Eagle’s third straight trip to the state tournament, and seventh this decade.

Issaquah snagged the District 2/4 No. 2 seed, and will face District 3, No. 6 seed, South Kitsap, at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 23 at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma.

Tied 8-8 in the top of the seventh, Issaquah’s Gavin Schumaker drilled a two-run home run to break the tie, and the Eagle’s rallied for two more runs, to seal the win. Miles Perkins and Spencer Rogers each had three hits for the Eagles, who generated 17 on the day. Marcus Gaan was also 2-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman Ethan Kalin earned the victory, working two innings of relief.

The winner of Saturday morning’s Issaquah–South Kitsap game will face the winner of Marysville-Pilchuck–Tahoma at 4 p.m., later that day.

Eastside Catholic knocked out by West Seattle

For the second consecutive year, Eastside Catholic was eliminated from a run at the 3A state baseball tournament via a league-tournament loss to West Seattle. The Wildcats knocked off the top-seeded Crusaders 6-4 Friday evening at the Southwest Complex in Seattle. They beat them 8-6 in a loser-out game last year.

Eastside Catholic led early, grabbing a 4-3 advantage after two innings. West Seattle rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third, however, and relief pitcher Ryan Wiggins was virtually unstoppable over the final four innings. He allowed just two hits and no runs, striking out six.

Garrett DeGallier, Mike Bush and Kellen Matsuno all had two hits for the Crusaders, who ended their season with a 16-6 record.