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closeRams nab upset against Vikings
Rogers hurler Will Hamilton pitches a gem against their arch-rivals at Heritage Park
Shaun Scott
Rogers senior Will Hamilton picked a good time to pitch the best game of his life.
Hamilton pitched a complete game allowing just one run and six hits in the Rams’ 4-1 upset victory against the Puyallup Vikings on April 25 at Heritage Park in Puyallup.
“Puyallup is a team that can really hit the ball,” Hamilton said. “It feels really good to beat those guys. We haven’t had that good of a season record wise, but to beat one of the best teams in the state is a big time accomplishment that we’ll always remember.”
Hamilton deflected credit from himself, instead praising his infielders and outfielders behind him who made spectacular catches throughout the game.
“That’s the best I’ve ever seen our defense play,” Hamilton said. “Those guys made it possible for us to win. It wasn’t about me. It was about our team.”
Hamilton’s prolific performance may have even had some divine intervention involved. Three years ago Hamilton’s father passed away, and Hamilton’s best performance on the mound ironically enough came on his father’s birthday.
“To do this on my dad’s birthday makes it even more special,” Hamilton said. “It’s just a great feeling.”
Rogers head coach Dan Thompson was ecstatic Hamilton rose to the occasion in the most anticipated matchup of the season.
“That was probably the best pitching performance I’ve seen from Will in all of his years here at Rogers,” Thompson said. “And it probably came against the best team he’s ever faced. Puyallup is a ball club that is going places and are one of the top teams in the state. I’m happy for Will. He’s one of our team captains and this will forever be one of his fondest memories.”
Thompson concurred with Hamilton’s sentiment regarding the stellar play by the Rams fielders.
“We had some great defensive gems. We had a few timely double plays and throws to pick off runners trying to advance to third base,” Thompson said. “Those kind of little things are huge and tend to pay off.”
Puyallup coach Marc Wiese knew his team squandered golden opportunities to score runs.
“We just made tons of mistakes and Rogers played a great baseball game. They got the job done,” Wiese said. “We just got beat in all aspects of the game. We hit the ball hard a few times but they were right at people. We shot ourselves in the foot on the base-paths and it cost us.”
Despite the loss, Wiese was quick to point out that his team has won 16 games thus far this season and has a good chance to make some noise in the postseason.
“Sometimes losses like this happen for a reason,” Wiese said. “We know what we need to fix and we’ll get there.”
Rogers got on the board in the top of the third inning when Kyle Matison doubled off of the fence in left center-field, scoring Aaron Knapp and Grant Williams, giving the Rams a 2-0 lead. Matison scored himself after an errant throw by a Puyallup infielder extending the Rams’ lead to 3-0. Rogers tacked on another run in the top of the seventh when Jordan Inglin took advantage of a passed ball, hustling down the third base line for the Rams’ fourth run of the game.
Matison said defeating the Vikings in his final game of his senior year is something he will never forget.
“I’ve been waiting my entire life for this,” Matison said. “Ever since I was a kid I would come watch my older brothers who were playing for Rogers go up against Puyallup. Winning against Puyallup is a nice way to finish off our season. It’s an awesome feeling. It just gives you tingles and is something that will last a lifetime in my memory.”