‘Pressure bursts pipes.’ Keister’s complete game lifts Olympia to 4A SPSL title

Brayden Cheeka thought he had room to spare. When a towering fly ball sailed toward Olympia’s left fielder with two outs in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s 4A SPSL championship, Cheeka figured he’d settle underneath a routine pop-up, secure the game-winning catch with both hands and celebrate with teammates on the mound. The Bears senior soon realized it wasn’t so simple.

Sumner’s Xander Cypher nearly tied a 1-0 game with a solo home run — but Cheeka drifted and reached with one arm to snag a potential home run out of the sky. “It was probably a foot away,” Cheeka said. Before he could return to the infield, Cheeka’s teammates found their hero in left field instead.

They formed a celebratory huddle around their left fielder, who had come down with a clutch, game-saving catch. Better yet, a league championship-saver. Olympia right-hander Landyn Keister, whose complete-game shutout hung in the balance, wasn’t so worried.

“If it’s long gone, it’s long gone,” he said. “But if it’s anywhere in (Brayden’s) range, he’s got it. I fully trust him.