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Griz baserunner Kellen Hutchens slides safely into home in action from the recently completed season.
Jordan McCowen pitched for The Griz and honed his baseball skills.
This swing of the bat was a hit for Denver Hutchens, a Dayton High School baseball player who contributed to The Griz's championship season on the mount, in the field and at the plate.
WALLA WALLA–The 16-and-Under Walla Walla Griz American Legion baseball team finished its 45-game summer season by winning the state championship in a classic fashion, and three Dayton hardballers were part of the team.
The Griz included two Dayton Bulldog baseball players, Jordan McCowen and Denver Hutchens, and Hutchens's cousin Kellen. McCowen is the son of Jeff and Melissa McCowen; Denver is the son of Clay and Rachel Hutchens; and Kellen is the son of Will and Shayna Hutchens.
Both Jordan McCowen, 15, and Denver Hutchens, 16, will be sophomores at Dayton High School this year, and Kellen Hutchens, 14, will be a freshman at Walla Walla High School.
The Griz developed their skills and acumen as the season progressed and finished second at district to the team from Hanford. The Griz, in second place, had to win a play-in game against the American Legion's Chehalis team, and they won it on July 19.
The double-elimination State Tournament was July 27-31 and the Griz were knocked into the consolation bracket, losing to Medical Lake in extra innings.
The Griz rallied, winning games on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to reach the championship game against their league rivals Hanford. Because of the tournament format, the team had to defeat Hanford twice, which they did.
The Griz downed Hanford Flames 13-10, then ten runned them 14-4 in the championship game.
Unfortunately, McCowen missed the last part of the season, including the play-in game against Chehalis and the ups and downs of the tournament as he honored his previous commitment to travel to Japan as part of the Dayton-Yamate High School Cultural Exchange Program.
