A Magical Run - By Easton Praino

It was the spring of 2018, and the Richland Bombers just came off winning the State Championship for Baseball 5-2 against Skyview. But to know the story, you must travel to the school year's fall. The football team lost in the state championship the year prior, which was a heartbreaker for all those players. They came into the next season with a goal in mind. They also had some baseball players on the team, like Adam Weissenfels, Josh Mendoza, and Casey Peryman. They ended up winning state 28-21 against Woodinville, on the back of Adam Weissenfels, who punched out the ball against Gonzaga Prep to send them to state. You also have to go to the winter to understand how dominant this class of seniors was. This basketball team was expected to win it all and give Richland their second title in the same school, which is unheard of. But they came up short, losing on a defecating buzzer-beater in the state semifinals against Gonzaga Prep. 

To know the story of Bomber Baseball, we have to go back to the previous head coach, Ben Jacobs. He set the standard for Bomber Baseball from 1999 to 2009. They won 4 state titles and made it to the final four almost every year, but they did not win. After Jacobs, there were some rough roads and some success, but this year brought back the standard of Bomber Baseball. Going into spring, these Bomber Boys consisted of a few football players still riding the high of winning state in football. No one expected this Baseball team to do anything in the playoffs. They were a talented team with many winners but did not buy in during the regular season. They finished just above .500 during the season at 11-9 but had many close games and four one-run losses. This regular season could have been different if they were bought in. They had the talent, but we did not know if their heart had been bought in yet. Coach Richardson was a big factor on this team. He had to get these guys to buy in. He knew they were not the best team in the state. But after the disappointing regular season, he told his players, “We don’t need to be the best team at the beginning of the year. We need to be the best at the end of the season.”

Going into the playoffs, there were no high expectations for this team. They started off well to start the playoffs. They beat Ferris in a one-run game, but unfortunately, they lost to Mead in the next game in extras. Luckily, districts are in double elimination, so they could still make the state. Coach Richardson said he challenged his guys, giving them a choice to give up or show some grit and prove they belonged. They finally bought in. They then ran a good Central Valley team. After beating Central Valley, they had a rematch against Ferris in a lose-or-go-home game, and they won 4-1. This team of guys who were a bunch of grinders bought their ticket into state and beat all expectations.

They had to go play at Puyallup and were matched up against the best team in the state, Tahoma. Tahoma had no worries about losing to this 11-9 Bomber team, their biggest downfall betting against Richland. The Bombers won 10-0. Later that same day, they beat Todd Beamer High, 6-2. Earning their place in the final four in their backyard at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. They played Federal Way in the semi-finals and beat their butts 11-0. This hot streak this team was on was amazing. They were supposed to be an easy game for many schools in the playoffs, and now they're in the state championship. Now, they played in the state championship. They gave the ball to their best pitcher, Taylor Johnson. Johnson would not overpower any hitter with his fastball, but he could place the baseball anywhere. He did exactly what the Bombers needed him to do. He slowed down that Skyview offense. The game was tied going into the 7th inning. The go-ahead run was a brilliant decision by Coach Richardson. He called a squeeze bunt with the bases loaded. Then another hit came along to push the lead to 5-2. They finally did it against all odds. This team of competitors who would not take no for an answer won the state.

That state title had a lasting impact on the Bomber baseball program. Many players, like myself, have to watch that team in the playoffs win it all against all odds. It made you want to be a part of a team and brotherhood like that. Richland's 2nd baseman from last season, John Corbin, got to watch it all. He had to say, “It meant a lot because there were a lot of players I knew on the team, and the RNLL all-star team had practice with them where we got to play catch and learn from the players, making us idolize them even more. Watching that team and the energy they had made me look forward to being a part of bomber baseball with a lot of excitement.” That team will go down in Bomber history as the ultimate underdogs.