Copious runners crossed the plate and ear-piercing cheers filled the grandstands during the third and fourth innings of Friday night’s rivalry baseball game featuring Lake Washington and Juanita.

When the dust settled, LW claimed an 11-4 victory at a packed Lee Johnson Field in Kirkland.

After LW survived a no-out, bases-loaded jam unscathed in the top of the third, the Kangs knocked in five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Juanita responded with four runs of its own in the top of the fourth, and then LW powered home four more in the bottom of that inning to lead, 9-4. LW tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

For LW, I-Ly Hsue and Jesus Vizcarra had two hits and three RBIs each, and Ricky Koishida and Dylan Kennedy had two hits each. Hsue had a pair of doubles and Vizcarra and Kennedy doubled as well. Other LW RBIs came from the bats of Koishida, Torin Montgomery, Andrew Urrutia and Nation Wood.

Jose Vizcarra earned the win from the pitchers’ mound.

On the Juanita side, Tyce Peterson had two hits (including a double), Kyle Fukutomi had two hits, Conor Frenik had a single and two RBIs, and Austin Santiago and Cole Kennison had RBI singles.

“It was fun to be back downtown in that incredible environment,” said LW head coach Derek Bingham. “Our schedule has been light early in the season, so our guys were excited to play and came out with great energy. The biggest strength of our team is our depth — that really showed tonight. Jose Vizcarra was outstanding out of the pen and I-Ly Hsue had a couple big-time hits.”

Juanita head coach Nate Sadler told his guys that playing against LW at Lee Johnson Field provided a special atmosphere.

“Our goal going into Friday’s game was simply be better than the day before, don’t let the moment be bigger than it is, and have fun,” he said. “Our guys went toe to toe with LW’s heavy hitters. We hit their best arm out of the game, I was very proud of them. We just need to clean up our mental and physical errors and we will be right there.”

In earlier JV action, LW beat Juanita, 9-1.

LW baseball, Juanita softball register wins

Lake Washington baseball defeated Liberty, 9-1, on March 25.

Kang leaders were Koishida with three hits and two RBIs, Wood with two hits and one RBI, Jordan Sacks with two hits and one RBI and Montgomery with two RBIs.

On the softball front, Juanita beat Liberty, 18-8.

For the Rebels, Abbie Reynolds had three hits and four RBIs, Mackenzie Burke had three hits and earned the win with eight strikeouts, Eden Radke had three hits, Lauren Moreau had two hits (including a homer) and four RBIs, Kaci Gordon had two hits and three RBIs, Rory Hutchinson had three RBIs and Rylee Blackburn had two RBIs.

Lake Washington forces a runner out at home during the third inning. Andy Nystrom / staff photo