Kentlake Pulls Off Stunning Comeback to Capture 3A State Championship

The atmosphere in the dugout resembled a scene straight out of a sports film. With a 6-2 deficit looming in the seventh inning of the Class 3A state championship match against Eastside Catholic at Everett Memorial Stadium, the Kentlake Falcons found themselves on the brink of defeat. Kentlake's coach, Mike Suguro, rallied his players with a passionate call to action. “I asked them, ‘Do you believe that we can win this game?’” Suguro recounted to The News Tribune post-game. “Cause I, (expletive), know I do.”

What transpired next felt almost miraculous. Christopher Moore ignited the rally with a double that brought in one run, narrowing the gap to 6-3. Following him, Matthew Ledbetter connected with a line drive triple, scoring two more runs and bringing the score to 6-5. A sacrifice fly by Tucker Bartlett completed the comeback effort, leveling the game at 6-6 and pushing it into extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Eastside Catholic opted to intentionally walk Christopher Moore, setting the stage for Ledbetter. This decision would prove costly. Ledbetter responded with a single to left field, scoring Lincoln Moore and securing a 7-6 victory for Kentlake, marking a dramatic finish to the game. “It’s an amazing feeling, especially after our best player getting walked,” Ledbetter expressed. “Definitely trying to go out and prove to them that they shouldn’t have walked him and I’m just as much of a threat.”

Suguro affectionately nicknames Ledbetter “Matty Ice,” a title well-earned through clutch performances, including a similar situation the day before in the semifinal against O’Dea. “I know C. Moore gets mad in practice, but Matthew has definitely benefited from it,” Suguro noted, emphasizing the strategy they developed around Moore’s presence on the field.

This victory marks Kentlake’s first-ever state championship title, an achievement that left the team elated. “That feels amazing, especially after it being 6-2,” Ledbetter stated. “We’ve never won state and it’s my senior year, it’s amazing.” The players and their families lingered on the field long after the final out, soaking in the moment of triumph.