The Arlington Eagles’ baseball team was victorious Sunday morning in their first state tournament matchup, defeating the Kelso Highlanders by a final score of 3-1.

After the game was rained out on Saturday, the start time of Sunday’s game was pushed back to 10:35 in order for field preparations to be completed. Once the game got underway, the Eagles started off fast. A sac fly from first baseman Branden Purdue (’17) scored Gavin Rork (’18), who had been at third base following a hit, a stolen base, and a throwing error by Kelso’s catcher.

Tristan Sheward (’17) was on the hill for the Eagles, and came away with a quick 1-2-3 first inning. In the second, with the bases full of Highlanders, Sheward wiggled out of the jam without allowing a run. Kelso wouldn’t get to Sheward until the third inning, when they tagged him for an RBI double. After that, the Highlanders would not score against Sheward, who finished the day with a complete game that included seven strikeouts, one walk, and only four hits.

After five full, the score was still knotted at one. But in the top of the sixth inning, controversy erupted. With a man on third, Jack Sheward (’19) laced a ball down the third base line. The double would’ve allowed Arlington to go up 2-1, but it was called foul at the last moment. Sheward would foul out to end the inning, leaving the score tied.

But the Eagles didn’t let the incident get to them. In the next inning, with runners on second and third and no one out, Daniel Smith (’16) doubled into the right field gap. Smith collected two RBIs on the play, and put Arlington up 3-1. The Eagles would go on to win by that score.

With the win, the Eagles advance to the next round of the state tournament. They will play the winner of the Lakeside-Glacier Peak game at approximately 4:30pm today.