Rains let up long enough for the Todd Beamer baseball team to elevate themselves to an 11-run fourth inning en route to a five-inning, 10-run mercy rule 16-6 South Puget Sound League South victory against visiting Spanaway Lake on Thursday, April 1.

The Titans finished with 10 hits while improving their league record to 3-2 and overall record to 5-3.

Trailing 6-3 midway through the third inning, Todd Beamer flew into action in the bottom of the fourth after its first two batters were routinely retired.

A TB single ahead of a passed ball and intentional walk set up Ryan Beck for an RBI single. Mac Gridley followed with a run-scoring single.

Brett Oyer singled home the run that made the score 6-6. An infield error pushed TB to an 8-6 lead and the Titans scored three additional runs to lead 14-6. Kenny Johnson blasted a solo home run as part of the wild rally.

"I just tried for a hit on a fastball," recollected Johnson. "For pitching, I tried to mow them down with fastballs and a slider."

After relief pitcher Johnson recorded a ground out and two strikeouts, Todd Beamer ended the fray on Beck's RBI and a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

"We've been getting off to slow starts," stated Beamer head coach Jerry Peterson. "I'm proud of our team for hitting and coming back. We're looking to return to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. We''ll rely on our seniors for leadership."

Ryan Beck returns in the outfield and at first base while Kenny Johnson and Travis Crumb are back as leaders of the offense. Also back are juniors Jeff Apigo and Mac Gridley along with sophomore Brett Oyer. Johnson is the returning pitcher. Crumb along with newcomers Richy Apigo and Brian Thomason make up the pitching staff.

Last season, the Titans finished fourth in the South at 10-6.

On the basis of the first three innings, it appeared that the Sentinels were on their way to victory. Spanaway Lake flowed to a three-run first inning on two hits, a hit batsman and a walk.

Beamer manufactured a lone tally in the bottom of the inning on a walk, an infield error, a stolen base and Richy Apigo's run-scoring sacrifice fly.

With one out in the top of the next inning, the Sentinels strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Miraculously, the Titans gave up no runs when the next batter grounded sharply to starting pitcher Travis Crumb who threw to catcher Adam Bolf for a force out at home. Bolf then had plenty of time to complete the double play with a throw to first baseman Richy Apigo.

Mac Gridley's lead off walk in the inning's home half followed by a walk set the stage for Bolf's RBI ground out that drew TB within 3-2.
Back came Spanaway Lake with three runs for a 6-2 advantage. The damage was ended when left fielder Jerrod Prather fielded a single and threw to the cutoff man, shortstop Mac Gridley, who forwarded his throw to catcher Bolf to nip a runner trying to score. Todd Beamer returned fire in the bottom of the third with its first two hits of the game. Richy Apigo's single made the score 6-3.

Relief pitcher Richy Apigo, who had come on in relief to face two batters in the third inning, then retired the Sentinels in order in the fourth inning to set up Todd Beamer's fantastic fourth inning.

Gridley batted 1-2 and scored three runs while Johnson was 1-3 with an RBI. Lee was 1-1 with an RBI. Richy Apigo was the winning pitcher, allowing one hit in his scoreless 1 1/3 innings pitched.