BELLINGHAM — Just as the La Center baseball team began building momentum in their come-from-behind pursuit of the Class 1A state championship, one final clutch hit eluded the Wildcats.

La Center fought to get within one run against Bellevue Christian in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday at Joe Martin Stadium, scoring two runs with the bases loaded on a hit batter and walk. Then, the Wildcats drove a fly ball to left field that had a chance to drop, but instead, the Vikings ran under it for the third out.

Bellevue Christian reliever Luke Evenson took care of the rest, retiring three La Center batters in the seventh inning to clinch a 5-4 win and the Vikings’ second state championship in four years.

La Center lamented a couple missed opportunities in the program’s first state title

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