2024 State Champs Feature - by Carter Upmeyer

The 2024 Bomber Baseball team won the 4A Washington State Championship—an achievement that rarely happens in most high schools since only one team can emerge victorious each year. Leading up to the 2024 season, the Bombers became more than just a team; they became “a brotherhood.” The starting lineup, as well as the bench players, had been close friends for years, which made this group incredibly special. At the pre-season meeting where Coach Grant Richardson outlined his expectations and goals, everyone felt it—this was our year. After a few disappointing state tournaments and teams with weak chemistry, everything aligned this season. We had the talent, but most importantly, we had the drive. ‘24 Senior John Corbin expressed how this team separated itself from the other years, saying, “The thing that set the 2024 team apart was the understanding of what we had to do as a team in order to win and the ability to commit to it.” You could look at every player and know they’d give everything for the teammate to their left and right. We knew Puyallup would be our biggest challenge, with over half their starting lineup committed to playing Division I baseball. They had the “talent” advantage, but we set our stakes high. Star All-State player and current New Mexico State baseball player Chris Daniels summed it up: “We wanted to beat the best team. We wanted a challenge. At the beginning of the year, I told the team, ‘We’re gonna beat Puyallup in that state championship.’ When it all planned out that way, we were ready.”

Photo: Crown Visuals

The Pre-Season and Regular Season

Leading into the season, our team met at school and outside of school to practice and build chemistry. It all started during the winter open gyms, where we spent 90% of the time playing basketball. It was more about bonding than baseball, and that connection proved invaluable during the season. In pre-season games, we experimented with positions, trying to find the best lineup. We never truly settled because we had so many versatile players. John Corbin, for example, started at second base, moved to catcher, and eventually ended up in left field during the playoffs. The regular season posed a few challenges. Our first game against Southridge High School was a fluke. Both pitchers and hitters struggled, which was unusual for us since we typically excelled in one area when the other faltered. Our second tough game was against Kamiakin High School, a rivalry that always drew thousands of fans and media attention. It was low-scoring until the sixth inning when I hit an infield single that sparked a rally, resulting in three runs and securing our victory.

Photo: @metcalfmedia_

Post-Season Dominance

Those close regular-season games prepared us for the pressure of districts. We cruised through the tournament until the championship against Gonzaga Prep. It was a 1-1 game until the fifth inning when pinch hitter Tanner Ortiz delivered a bases-loaded, three-run double. That momentum carried us to a 7-1 win and back-to-back district titles.

The State Tournament

The state tournament was the moment we had been waiting for all season. Coach Richardson’s mantra, “Golds to Gesa,” symbolized our goal: making it to Gesa Stadium to compete for the state title. Our first game against the Woodinville Falcons was a nail-biter. The game was tied 1-1 until Chris Daniels crushed a hanging slider for a two-run homer. Woodinville fought back, tying it at 4-4, but we pulled away to win 7-4. The next game against Gonzaga Prep was all Bombers; we won 3-0 to punch our ticket to Gesa Stadium. In the semifinals, we faced the North Creek Jaguars in an epic 12-inning battle. Pitcher Alec Ammerman threw seven stellar innings before relief pitching took over. Chris Daniels delivered in a clutch moment, striking out a batter with loaded bases and a full count. The momentum carried us to a 1-0 victory in the 12th inning—a four-hour marathon.

Photo: @metcalfmedia_

The State Championship

The ultimate challenge: Richland vs. Puyallup for the state title. MCC Player of the Year Dallas Bennett took the mound for us against D1 commit LeJeune. Gesa Stadium was packed with fans, and the atmosphere was electric. In the second inning, Josh Woodard came through with a bases-clearing double, putting us ahead 3-0. Puyallup fought back, scoring two runs by the fourth inning. In response, I scored on a passed ball, giving us a 4-2 lead. Michael Revell took the mound in the sixth inning and silenced Puyallup’s offense. The seventh inning was a rollercoaster. After a double play brought us within one out of victory, Puyallup rallied with a hit and two hit-by-pitches, narrowing the score to 4-3. With two runners on, Josh Woodard—who hadn’t played baseball in two years—came in to pitch. On a 2-1 count, Puyallup’s hitter crushed a line drive to center field, but Revell made an incredible catch. The Bombers were state champions! The crowd erupted, and the celebration felt like the world was shaking. This was more than a team—it was a brotherhood that would last forever. The 2024 Bombers.

Photo: @metcalfmedia_