Gonzaga Prep secures historic State 4A baseball final berth with victory over Richland
Starter Dylan Croall pitches complete game as Gonzaga Prep advances to first-ever state title game, while Sumner and Tri-Cities Prep also advance in their respective brackets.
Gonzaga Prep has secured its first-ever appearance in the Washington State 4A baseball championship after defeating the top-seeded Richland Bombers 5-2 in the State 4A semifinal on May 29. The victory at Funko Field in Everett marks a significant milestone for the fifth-seeded Bulldogs, who have now beaten Richland twice in the past two weeks, including the District 6 title game. In the opposing bracket, No. 2 Sumner advanced to the final by defeating Kamiakin 6-1. The Greater Spokane League has not produced a state champion since the tournament was sanctioned in 1973.
Starter Dylan Croall pitched a complete game for Gonzaga Prep, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters. The senior, who is set to attend Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona, delivered what head coach Brian Munhall described as the best outing of his career. Croall’s performance neutralised Richland’s Michael Revell, the Mid-Columbia Conference’s pitcher of the year, who lasted only three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits before being removed from the contest.
Jackson Mott provided the offensive spark for Gonzaga Prep, hitting a solo home run in the third inning to extend the lead to 3-1. Mott, who admitted to playing on adrenaline, helped the Bullpups build a three-run advantage that held until the sixth inning. Richland managed a single run in the sixth via an RBI single by Hayden Galloway, but Gonzaga Prep’s defence cut off the throw to prevent further damage, preserving the lead for Croall’s final three innings of work.
In the other 4A semifinal, Sumner defeated Kamiakin 6-1 to advance to the title game. Junior pitcher Wyatt Plyler threw six shutout innings for Sumner, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 batters. Kamiakin’s starter Zach Vega, who has committed to Gonzaga University, gave up six runs on seven hits. Sumner, which entered the tournament with a 22-4 record, will face Gonzaga Prep in the championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Funko Field, home of the Everett AquaSox.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Tri-Cities Prep advanced in the 2B bracket by defeating Northwest Christian 10-1. Colter Schorer pitched a complete game for the Jaguars, allowing one run on six hits. Tri-Cities Prep (26-2) will face Toutle Lake (20-7) in the 2B third-place game on Saturday at 10 a.m. In the 4A bracket, Richland and Kamiakin will play for third place, continuing a rivalry between Mid-Columbia Conference teams.
Gonzaga Prep entered the tournament as the fifth seed with a 23-4 record, while Richland held the top seed at 24-3. The victory marks the second time Gonzaga Prep has defeated Richland in two weeks, having previously edged the Bombers 3-2 in the District 6 title game on May 16. Head coach Brian Munhall noted that while the team respects Richland’s traditions, the Bulldogs felt they had earned their place in the final through consistent performance throughout the season.
The Greater Spokane League has not produced a baseball state champion since the state sanctioned the tournament in 1973, making Gonzaga Prep’s appearance particularly notable. The Bulldogs are just the 15th team from the league to reach a baseball “final four.” Mott, who hit the decisive home run, stated that the team’s underdog status removed pressure, allowing them to focus on execution. Croall added that the team’s confidence was bolstered by their ability to defeat the top-seeded Bombers twice in a short period.
