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Clutch hitting and pitching lifted Kamiak to a victory over district rival Mariner.

Senior Bryce Coté smacked a two-RBI double in the third inning and freshman Sanha Oh allowed only one run in 5 2/3 innings to lead the Knights to a 3-1 victory in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday, April 23, at Mariner High School.

In his first start of the season, Coté pitched the first 1 and 1/3 innings. The senior right-hander retired the side in nine pitches in the first inning and then allowed a hit, walked a batter and struck out a batter in the second before being lifted for Oh.

Kamiak coach Kevin Agnew said the plan was for Coté to pitch a couple of innings in preparation for a start later in the week.

“I felt real good getting back on the mound,” Coté said “It was definitely a confidence booster.”

In the third inning, Kamiak’s Ethan Norris drew an leadoff walk and Syrus Vannatta followed with a single to center field. Coté followed with a shot to left field that at first looked like might leave the ballpark.

“It felt real good off the bat,” Coté said. “I thought it was gone, then I remembered, it’s a big deeper down the foul line. … It was a fastball just up.”

Mariner cut the lead to 3-1 in the fourth when Ryan McCann hit a double to left field to drive in Cody McDuffee, who singled with two outs. The Marauders had an opportunity to score in the fifth inning but a runner was thrown out at home plate trying to score on a grounder to third base.

Mariner coach Reggie Corns said the run could have made a big difference but he wasn’t upset.

“I take a good, aggressive mistake as opposed to being lazy,” Corns said.

Kamiak added another run in the sixth. Leo Furlong-Benedetti singled to left field to drive in Norris, who reached base on an error. He then stole second and third base.

Oh previously struggled with his control but only issued one walk.

“He did a great job today,” Agnew said. “He had a couple of tough situations. He buckled down.”

Corns noted that the two-run loss was one of Mariner’s better overall performances in a season that ended with no victories and 18 losses.

“We played well today,” Corns said. “We were couple of hits short of making it closer or maybe getting a win.”

Kamiak coach Kevin Agnew also praised the Marauders.

“They really came out and they played well,” he said. “Their pitcher (McDuffee) threw a really good game. They had good at-bats against us.

“We battled and stepped up in the end and took control of it.”

The Knights, who only had three seniors on the roster, made significant progress this season.

“They’ve grown up a lot over the last couple of months just in terms of going about the game” Agnew said. “It’s a big change, especially with some of these sophomores and even our upperclassmen, they don’t have a ton of experience.”