By Jeremy Martin

The 2014 Metro League Tournament kicked off at Steve Cox Memorial Park with a full slate of Saturday games, bookended by two clubs from West Seattle.

While the West Seattle High Wildcats picked up a victory over Lakeside in the day’s first contest, Chief Sealth fell to Seattle Prep 12-0 in fiving innings to close out the opening day of the event.

The Seahawks dug a nearly insurmountable hole giving up eight runs in the top of the first and finding itself a bit too far behind to come back.

Third baseman Merle Rowan-Kennedy reached base twice for Sealth, hitting a single in the second and getting plunked by a Patrick Stanton fastball in the fourth.

Izac Bauer went 1-3 with a single in the first, Jackson Chilcot picked up a first inning single and Kyler Gaither singled in the fifth for the Seahawks.

Seahawk starting pitcher Evan Moe had a rough outing as seven of the first eight Panther hitters reached base in the top of the first with Prep batting the order in the inning going 8 for 11.

Moe would last 2 innings giving up 7 hits, walking two and hitting one while allowing 9 runs. He was relieved in the third by Briane Steel who gave up three hits and walked two but otherwise had a steady showing allowing only three runs.

“Evan had a tough time, he usually starts a lot stronger, but it’s not all on him, we didn’t hit the ball. If you don’t hit you don’t win,” Chief Sealth head coach Ernest Policarpio said

The Seahawks spread four hits across five innings, but Prep had no trouble from the plate picking up at least one hit in every inning.

Will Hall was hot for the Panthers going 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI. McNeil Fulmore reached base four times for Prep as did Stuart Fairchilnd while Jacob Terao went 3-4 with 2 RBI and a double.

Stanton, who started the game on the hill for Prep went four innings allowing no runs while giving up three hits, walking two and hitting Rowan-Kennedy.

Riley McCoy pitched the fifth for the Panthers giving up one hit and striking out two.

Next up for Sealth will be a 7pm elimination round matchup Monday night with Nathan Hale who fell earlier to O’Dea.

Sealth will need to win two more games in order to receive an invite to the State Tournament.